Public transport has been converted to CNG in New Delhi and many other big cities to combat pollution and Pakistan can also experience it, he said. In a statement issued here today, he said that smog has resulted in many problems for the people in Punjab while the situation was not so alarming before 2012 when CNG was available easily.

The closure of CNG increased consumption of diesel and petrol adding to the pollution and oil import bill, he said, adding that now public transport should use economic and environment-friendly fuel of CNG in line with the government’s decision and directives of the Supreme Court.  Ghiyas Paracha said that there is no shortage of CNG in the country due to the LNG policy introduced by the incumbent government.

Converting public service vehicles on CNG will reduce pollution by 28 percent in Lahore which is witnessing an increase of 12.9 percent in the number of vehicles.

He said that there are much more reasons of increased smog including the burning of crop leftovers in Pakistan and India, deforestation and cutting of trees for mega projects, emissions from the industrial sector, burning of rubber as fuel in brick kilns etc. which must be controlled.

He said that latest CNG kits have been introduced in the country which are more efficient, more environment-friendly and designed for better mileage.