Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) authorities may cut supply of gas to the CNG station if they continue strike and divert gas to the industrial sector, Business Recorder learnt on Thursday. Sources in the company claimed that bigwigs are thinking to stop supplying gas to the CNG sector if they continue strike. Conversely, there was a partial strike in Lahore on second consecutive day and about 70 percent of the CNG stations remained open in the city.
The CNG association has organised a protest rally from Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to Governor House on Mall Road. The protesters blocked the traffic for about an hour. There were long queues of vehicles at a few CNG stations and petrol pumps that opted to continue their businesses. Thick traffic was witnessed in the provincial metropolis due to shortage of fuel. Public transport was also thin on roads, which resulted in problems for commuters.
However, in absence of normal public transport, LPG-fuelled tri-wheelers were seen busy on city roads. Sources in the SNGPL told Business Recorder that the negotiations were held over two weekly holidays for gas filling stations. The matter was discussed in detail and deliberations were made informing thereby CNG associations regarding shortfall confronted by SNGPL from gas sources.
They also said that the reported strike by All Pakistan CNG Associations still continues, which is uncalled for under the present circumstances, leading to inconvenience and disturbance for general public especially for low income commuters who have been deprived of economical fuel ie CNG.
The sources said that SNGPL is facing huge gap between demand and supply due to reduction of supplies from major gas fields supplying gas to SNGPL's network on account of depletion of gas fields. According to Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Chairman of APCNGA Supreme Council, 99 percent CNG stations were closed in protest from Sadiqabad to Attock in the province. Out of total 2,267 CNG stations in the province, owners of 2,250 closed their business against unjustified gas distribution policy of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL), he added.
He maintained that CNG stations in big cities, including Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Central and Southern Punjab, were shut, supporting the strike call. Those who opted to open CNG filling stations were involved in gas theft while some of them were members of ruling elite and opportunists, he alleged.
He expressed concern over attitude of government functionaries, saying that high-ups did not want to resolve issue of increasing gas loadshedding for CNG stations although summer has started. "We were forced to close our businesses. The masses had to suffer only due to ill-planning of the government departments." He expressed regret over problems being faced by the people due to closure of CNG stations. He claimed that there was no shortage of gas in the country and intentional steps were being taken to reduce supply to Punjab. The All Pakistan CNG Association leader vowed that the association would continue their strike till the acceptance of their demands.