Ministry of Petroleum has turned down the demand of All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) to end a two-day gas loadshedding for CNG stations under Gas Load Management Plan (GLMP), Business Recorder has learnt. But the Ministry has assured the association of switching to one-day gas loadshedding from February 15, 2011 if the situation improves.
In a high-level meeting, chaired by Secretary Petroleum Imtiaz Qazi on Monday, APCNGA also proposed staggering holiday for CNG stations that was also rejected by the ministry.
Meanwhile, the association has termed the meeting inconclusive as its demands were not met. Sindh and Peshawar High Courts have already issued orders against load shedding in the respective provinces.
"Gas supply to fertiliser sector is suspended for 45 days whereas other industries are facing four-day gas loadshedding," Petroleum Ministry officials informed the meeting adding that gas suspension to CNG sector for two-day was being implemented due to shortage of gas in the country.
Talking to media men after the meeting, Chairman APCNGA Supreme Council Ghyas Paracha said that gas loadshedding had caused billions of rupees loss to national exchequer besides reesulting in huge unemployment He maintained that the industrial sector was being provided gas in winter, which was a violation of agreements inked with SNGPL.
Paracha further said "the meeting remained fruitless as APCNGA's demand to establish an equal and just gas distribution system was not considered."
"The real causes of loadshedding are the industries being run on gas even in winter, which are supposed to be shifted to alternative options," Paracha said adding that no one in the government was interested to listen to APCNGA.
According to sources, government will have to amend the Constitution if it wants to share loadshedding equally among the provinces. Earlier gas utilities were reducing their supply to other provinces by diverting gas to Punjab but now they can not follow this practice after the Sindh and Peshwar High Courts' orders.
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