Two-day weekly closure of CNG stations has compounded the problems of the users of public transport. There are increasing complaints that transporters in the twin cities charge higher fare during CNG shutdown. The residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi also face the problem of paucity of public transport.
During the on-going CNG shutdown days, ie Monday and Tuesday, people were seen at stops waiting for hours to board a bus or wagon for travelling to their destinations. "Whenever a vehicle turns up, it is always full to capacity. In such a situation, the only way to go to home is to either stand crouched inside the wagon or bus or wait hours for a vehicle having vacant seats", said a frustrated commuter Yasir Noshad.
Another traveller Jaffery Masih said seats are offered to those passengers who pay higher fare while the others are seen running behind busses and wagons. The local authorities do not seem to have any check on the transporters who increase the fare when fuel prices rise, but don't decrease it whenever there is any reduction in prices.
Hiba Mira, a lady passenger, complained of rude behaviour of the van conductors. There is no schedule for arrival or departure of public transport at stops, she added. "As compared to rest of the country, Rawalpindi division has more wagons with petrol engines converted to CNG," said Khurram Jamal, a wagon driver.
He said the CNG shutdowns were seriously disturbing their business, as operating a wagon on petrol was not a viable proposition due to its high price. Private car-owners have also been hit hard due to the weekly shutdown of CNG stations and of the highly increased petroleum prices. "We wander here and there in search of gas, only to find all pumps closed down during weekly gas holidays," Kamal Khan, a resident of Rawalpindi, said.
"Fuel stations close down their CNG pumps twice a week, adding to the misery of the common man," Nadir Ali, a motorist, said. Some CNG stations erected tents around their boundaries and displayed black banners inscribed with slogans against mandatory shutdown.
At some places, filling station owners deputed their employees to inform people about the shutdown and advise them to use petrol instead of gas for a day. Most of the Suzuki pickups and taxi drivers increased their fares on the ground that there was a difference of almost 50 percent or more in the fuel efficiency of CNG and petrol.
"I have run out of CNG and if I do not get the fuel by night, it will be difficult for me to do business the next day. Use of petrol is not viable due to its high price," said Khurram, a local taxi driver. Commuters demanded of the concerned authorities either to withdraw weekly shutdown of CNG or decrease petroleum prices.
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