Gas supply: government accused of ignoring domestic consumers, CNG sector

The incumbent government has totally ignored the domestic consumers and CNG sector, as they are facing enormous gas shortage even in summer. The CNG stations load management plan has also been revised to allow gas supply to vehicles for only 18 hours instead of two days a week, which is resented by the poor and small transporters.
The residents of various localities adjacent to sixth road and Amin Town in Rawalpindi are facing suspension of gas supply for the last few days and all their hue and cry as well as complaints failed to move the high-ups of Sui Northern Gas Supply Company Limited (SNGPL).
A resident complained, "We do not expect this from Pakistan Muslim League-N government, which is proving worse than its predecessor especially in resolving problems of CNG sector." This is for the first time that the domestic consumers do not have gas in summer, he added.
A taxi diver Muhammad Abbasi while talking to Business Recorder said that they had not faced such gas shortage at CNG stations in summer even during Pakistan People's Party (PPP) government. Another taxi driver Akbar Ali said that they did not see such long queue of vehicles in summer at CNG stations in the past. Akhtar Ali, an owner of a small vehicle, said that PTI's Chief Imran Kahn was announcing long marches for his own interest, but he bothered little about public miseries. He said that Imran Khan did not announce a long march for the problems being faced by the poor.
Chairman All Pakistan CNG Association, Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, said that the government wanted to close the CNG industry, but the move would be resisted. He said, "We will launch protest demonstrations against the government if it reduces time of gas supply to CNG stations any more." He rejected new gas load management schedule issued by SNGPL for the CNG sector in Punjab, adding that the new schedule permits provision of gas for nine hours twice a week which is unacceptable. CNG industry in Punjab cannot survive if it is forced to work for only nine hours on Mondays and Thursdays, said Paracha.