CNG stations asked to stick to new prices: government issues warning

The government will take stern action against owners of CNG stations who closed their units following a big cut in CNG prices on the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan, Prime Minister''s Adviser on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain said on Friday. Reports suggested that in many parts of the country, CNG station owners stopped refilling vehicles on one pretext or the other, creating serious difficulties for the public.
Talking to reporters here, Dr Asim Hussain said that a list of stations which closed down after CNG price was slashed by up to Rs 30.9 on Thursday was being compiled, adding that that legal action would be taken against them. Welcoming the apex court''s orders, the adviser urged all provincial governments to ensure immediate implementation of the court directions. He said that the licenses of such stations that shut down after the SC order would be cancelled. Meanwhile, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) also warned of legal action against CNG pumps where the price reduction was not being implemented.
"To ensure compliance with the Supreme Court order and Ogra notification regarding reduction in CNG prices, the Authority has requested the Chief Secretaries of the provinces to take strict action against those CNG stations, which are over charging consumers," an Ogra statement added. The Authority also directed Managing Directors Sui-Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and Sui-Southern Gas Company for deputing teams to check CNG stations. Moreover, Ogra directed the SNGPL and SSGC to disconnect gas supply of all CNG stations involved in violating SC orders.
The regulatory body has already dispatched teams to monitor and control CNG prices, a statement issued here said. CNG Dealers Association''s chairman Abdul Sami Khan said some members had complained that they could not run their business and suffer losses, but the association had instructed them to reduce the price and keep their stations open.
Contrary to actual events, CNG Station Owners Association''s chairman Malik Khuda Bux claimed that all CNG stations had reduced the price and their pumps were open across the country. Some pumps might have been closed because of low gas pressure, but other pumps were operating normally, he added. He said the decision was implemented from midnight and CNG would be available at reduced rate by Friday morning. Meanwhile, Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA), urged owners of all CNG station to continue selling the commodity at prices notified by Ogra the other day.