CNG Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday voluntarily called off their unannounced strike and resumed sale of the cheap fuel to private motorists and commuters' vehicles in the province. The decision of ending strike was taken by the Association after their negotiations with district administration proved successful.
During the negotiations, the government was represented by District Co-ordination Officer (DCO) Mohammad Javed Marwat and Assistant Co-ordination Officer (ACO) Habibullah Arif, while CNG Association was represented by its Central Vice Chairman Pervez Khan Khattak, Provincial Chairman Fazal Muqeem Khan and others office bearers of the Association.
According to sources privy to the negotiations said the office bearers of CNG Association reiterated their economic problems in the wake of cut in the price of the commodity. They told the officials of the district administration that selling of the commodity in the present price was not viable and inflicting heavy losses on them. The DCO and ACO assured them that their grievances would be brought into the notice of the government and efforts would be made for their redressal.
On the assurance the office bearers of the CNG Association agreed on the opening of their stations and selling of the cheap fuel to the people. Meanwhile, the owners of CNG stations in district Swat have also ended their strike after holding successful negotiations with district administration. CNG stations in Swat remained closed for two days, creating difficulties for private motorists and commuters' vehicles in getting cheap fuel for their vehicles.
The district administration while taking into consideration the situation arising out the strike held negotiations with CNG Association. During the negotiations the administration was represented by Sub-Divisional Magistrate/DOR Swat Niaz Khan and DSP City Amjad Khan, while CNG Association was represented by its President Tahir Khan and others.
The two-day strike of CNG Association had brought the movement of commuters' transport to standstill and transporters were demanding manifold higher fares from the commuters. The general public including low paid public, private sector employees, students and general public are demanding cut in the transport fares in proportion to the decrease in the price of the commodity. They are of the view that cut in the price of CNG is benefiting only transport mafia and called for passing on the relief to common men also.