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CNG stations to go on strike: Fill it up before it’s too late

By Nauman Tasleem

LAHORE: All CNG stations in the city will remain closed on Thursday owing to a strike announced by CNG dealers.

All-Pakistan CNG Association is protesting the load shedding of gas and has announced the closure of all CNG stations in Lahore on November 12 (Thursday). The government has decided to stop the gas supply for all CNG stations for two days in a week in Punjab and NWFP, while it is also planning to increase the prices of gas. Citizens have criticised this decision.

All-Pakistan CNG Association President Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha said the government was acting irrationally, and this move will not only ruin the CNG business but will hinder mobility of the people. He said the government is planning to bring the prices of petrol and CNG at the same level. Paracha said the consequences would be severe if the decision was implemented. He added that, “it will be a direct attack on the mobility of people.” He said CNG stations of Lahore, Sargodha and Khoshab division would remain closed, and people traveling in these cities should prepare themselves for the strike, or make alternative arrangements. Paracha said the CNG station owners have made investments in the sector but the government is not taking the matter seriously. “We have investment of around Rs four billion, which would become pointless if the prices of CNG were raised to the price of petrol.

Consumers have strongly criticised the Sui Northern Gas Company for creating problems for them by suspending the gas supply and increasing CNG prices. They said the government encouraged the use of gas and people installed CNG kits in their vehicles, but after an investment of Rs 25,000 to 50,000, they were informed that there would be a shortage of CNG. “If there was not enough gas, then why were users encouraged to go for CNG,” said a banker Sadeed Ather. There are about 367 CNG stations in the Lahore Division and all these stations would be closed from Wednesday midnight and would remain closed till Thursday midnight. Company operated CNG stations would remain open, but these stations are very few in number, and are not enough to cater to the needs of the city.

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