APCNGA says CNG loadshedding, existing prices illegal

Conspiracy being hatched to bankrupt the CNG sector

Govt, courts should ensure supremacy of law, provide relief to masses

Petroleum ministry should issue policy guidelines immediately

Dated Sept 30^th

The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Monday said CNG loadshedding initiated by gas distribution companies and existing CNG prices fixed by Ogra are illegal.

Courts should look into the matter and ensure supremacy of the law which will provide relief to tens of millions of masses associated with the CNG, said Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Chairman Supreme Council APCNGA.

In a statement issued here today, he said that present government should abandon the disabling policies of the former regime and frame positive rules while ministry of petroleum should issue policy guidelines without further delay.

Ghiyas Paracha said that according to clause 35 of the SSGC rules, the CNG sector and domestic consumers would be shielded and excluded from loadshedding as they lack any alternative to the natural gas.

Any loadshedding schedule which hurts masses or CNG sector will be illegal unless the clause in question is amended, he added.

The leader of the CNG sector said that how can gas companies expects consumers and CNG operators to be honest while they prefer violating laws every now and then.

Gas distributors are not making a good example by being disrespectful to court orders and violating provisions of the licence under which they are operating, he said.

He said that prices of electricity and other items have increased substantially but authorities are not ready to review the CNG retail prices as they are totally focused on extracting as much money as they can in the name of taxes.

This is a well-orchestrated conspiracy aimed at crumbling CNG sector under the burden of expenses and taxes, he claimed. He said that former government made gas provision priority list to benefit a particular group disregarding reservations of various important departments.

The move benefitted an influential group and some politicians but country faced colossal losses, he lamented.

Paracha demanded that government should frame new policies keeping interests of masses supreme and review all the polities of the former regime so that justice can be ensured.