The caretaker government has withdrawn its decision to ban use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in over 1,000cc vehicles. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has issued a notification in this connection here on Friday, saying that the caretaker government does not have the mandate to take such decisions.
According to a senior Petroleum Ministry official, the Prime Minister's decision to ban use of CNG in vehicles over 1,000cc engine capacity is not implementable because the concerned department Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has not enough staff to keep an eye on 3,500 CNG stations across the country. To check all CNG stations countrywide the regulatory body needs about 7,000 additional staff, he added.
The caretaker PM on May 21, 2013 signed a summary forwarded by the petroleum ministry to ban filling of CNG to vehicles above 1000CC citing severe shortage of natural gas. The decision was immediately rejected by the CNG stations owners associations across the country.
In a meeting, the Federal Law Ministry declared the recent decision of the caretaker PM Minister Hazar Khan Khoso to ban vehicles of over 1000cc capacity from utilising CNG as illegal. Officials of the law ministry maintained that the decision is against basic human rights. Moreover, the decision was difficult to implement across the country, they added.
Caretakers cannot take key changes, the decision was against the constitution and that every citizen has the right over hydrocarbon resources, the law ministry observed. The PM on May 21 issued executive orders after which the petroleum ministry asked Ogra to implement the decision and slap fine from Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000 on the CNG stations violating the orders.
It also asked Orga to suspend licences of CNG outlets if found violating orders and that the CNG pump shall be sealed for a minimum period of six months. However, the law ministry took a firm and just stand that caretakers are exceeding their authority by taking such important policy decisions.
Meanwhile, Ghayas Abdullah Paracha, Chairman Supreme Council APCNGA welcomed the decision of the law ministry. He said that decision was discriminatory, which was result of collusion between the Petroleum Minister Sohail Wajahat Siddiqui and powerful captive power lobby. Paracha said that Siddiqui followed footsteps of former advisor petroleum Dr Asim who also tried to ban CNG in 1000CC cars, but the then Law Minister Farooq Naek foiled the efforts of Dr Hussain. Caretaker minister has been bulldozing all rules, regulations and gas priority provision list to please certain lobbies, he alleged. He said that law ministry has taken decision based on merit.
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