Motorists faced hardships to get CNG cylinders refuelled throughout the day on Friday as most of the CNG pumps in the city were closed, after the unprecedented reduction in CNG price by the Supreme Court. The Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on the directives of the SC notified exceptional reduction in CNG tariffs - Rs 30.90 in Region-I and Rs 30.38 in Region-II - that forced the pump owners to stop sale of environment-friendly fuel at reduced rates.
An unannounced strike began in most of the areas, creating immense difficulties for motorists, especially owners of CNG vehicles. Minor clashes were also witnessed at several CNG pumps where people roughed up filling station staff. Long queues of vehicles were witnessed at various pumps as filling stations in the city had shut their dispensers to express resentment over the SC decision.
"Whenever CNG rates are increased, pumps owners within seconds revise rates but adopt a different strategy and become deaf when the prices are reduced," motorists said. They said CNG pumps have stopped selling the commodity forcing consumers to buy gasoline at much higher rate. They said the station owners seemed to be strong enough than the law enforcers that's why they apply such tactics with no fear of apprehension.
They urged all concerned authorities to take stern measures against them and provide maximum relief to consumers. When contacted, Abdul Sami Khan, President, All Pakistan CNG Dealers Association (APCNGDA) said apart from withdrawal of cess in revised CNG tariffs, the said reduction in CNG tariffs are providing loss of Rs 12 per kg to pumps owners as the regulatory authority has not taken the CNG associations on board before this decision.
He urged the authorities to revisit its decision and fix CNG rates at rational level (Rs 71 per kg) as CNG owners were getting natural gas at a cost of Rs 40 per kg from July 1, 2012 while the other expenditures including electricity, franchise fee, labour cost, maintenance and others stood at Rs 24 per kg. He said it is premature to comment on future line of action as the chairman Ogra Saeed Ahmad Khan called a meeting on October 30, 2012 in Islamabad to discuss the issue and find the best way out to facilitate consumers and pump owners.
"The association has communicated all the members to sell CNG at revised rates till the meeting on October 30, 2012 as the chairman Ogra in a telephonic conversation has assured them of compensation against the losses." Meanwhile, Ghiyas Paracha, Chairman All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) said the association will sell CNG as per SC decision during Eid festival, adding that the association would approach Ogra for an opinion on SC decision.