Most of the CNG stations owners have continued their unannounced protest against the decrease in prices of CNG by the government following the Supreme Court (SC) order due to which long queues of vehicles were observed at fuel stations, providing gas to consumers with low pressure.
According to a survey conducted by Business Recorder some of the CNG stations especially in the city outskirts kept their gas fuel outlets closed due to which people travelled from rural areas to urban areas mainly PSO-run CNG Stations which have been supplying gas but they had to wait for hours for their turn due to the low pressure. A CNG station owner complained that they were facing low supply of gas which is causing low pressure. However, motorists blamed the CNG station owners for creating artificial low pressure and accused them of fleecing consumers by making huge profits.
"Government needs to take strict action against the CNG station owners, that do not follow government instructions", said Adnan Ali a motorist. The unannounced strike of CNG station owners further compounded the misery of citizens. Office-goers and students on Monday continued to face problems due to shortage of transport on the roads. While cab drivers overcharged commuters under the guise of closure of CNG stations.
CNG Dealers Association Chairman, Abdul Sami Khan said that most of the stations are providing gas regularly but consumers are facing problems due to low gas pressure to the CNG stations. The Association has asked the CNG station owners to keep their gas fuel outlets open and facilitate the consumers, he added.
Meanwhile, a CNG station was sealed at sector I-9 on the directive of Advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain, who personally visited one CNG station en route to his office from SNGPL office Islamabad. He also suspended the chief engineer of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) on the occasion. Talking to journalists on the occasion he welcomed the apex court decision on reducing the CNG price and added that gas should be consumed by public transporters only so that the benefit can filter down to the vulnerable.
He lashed out at the owners of CNG stations who threatened to go on strike against government's move to control prices. He said that it was a mistake of the previous government to provide gas connections in abundance and assured that domestic gas consumers will not be disturbed during the upcoming winter season. A summary regarding the price of petroleum products has been dispatched to Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet that will make a decision in this regard in its next meeting, he added.