If GIDS increased through Finance Bill: APCNGA threatens to shut down CNG stations, petrol pumps

All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Monday announced to shut down all CNG stations and petrol pumps if the government increased Gas Infrastructure Development Surcharge (GIDS) through Finance Bill. This was stated by Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Central Chairman APCNGA while addressing a protest demonstration.
He said that the government has finalised a plan to raise CNG prices by further increasing the GIDS for CNG sector up to Rs 159 per MMBTU in the next budget. He urged the government to announce reduction in gas load shedding for CNG sector. He maintained that the government on January 1, 2012 had increased the CNG price by Rs 11.5 per kg, which was illegal and the government was planning to further increase its price.
He said that if government did not take all these steps then APCNGA would close all the CNG and petrol pumps across the country in protest. "We are in consultation with traders and transporters' associations. If the government raised CNG price we will shut down all the businesses from Karachi to Khyber. There will be no transport on the roads if CNG price is increased," Paracha said.
He said "We will not let LPG to disturb 50 millions consumers having 4 million vehicles and an economical travel facility of the middle class. We have given a comprehensive formula to enhance government's revenue and gas shortage. The plan will resolve the electricity and energy crisis in the country," he added. If the authorities implements APCNGA formula, the government will earn around Rs 78 billion extra revenue per month, which will help to deal with circular debts issue effectively.