Motorists and commuters in the provincial metropolis on Tuesday faced difficulties owing to closure of CNG stations, while transporters were fleecing commuters with double fares, taking full advantage of the situation. The CNG stations remained closed on the second consecutive day causing great difficulty to motorists and the general public as well due to the scarce transport services on all the major routes.
The worst situation was witnessed on the Peshawar University road and city areas where vehicles were standing in a long queue for the refilling of gas at CNG stations. The closure of CNG stations also led to a unilateral increase in fares by the transporters.
"We are waiting for the last three hours in a queue to refill the cylinder as most of the CNG stations are being closed in the University area," said Akram Khan hailing from the posh area of University town Peshawar. He supported the decision of the Supreme Court regarding the cutting of prices of CNG in the country.
"Yes, it was a good decision of the apex court, which definitely provides maximum relief to the general masses," said Dr Najam Akhtar while driving a small Suzuki car. Though, she said that to go on a strike was the legitimate right of everybody, but ultimately the people suffered from any such move.
"The gas is locally produced in the country, why can't they, the (CNG) owner sell at exorbitant prices," she questioned. She said that a concrete mechanism was needed to keep the prices of CNG lower in the country. A manager of a CNG filling station told this scribe that they had stopped the sale due to a cut in CNG prices by the Supreme Court. They said that the government should also decrease the huge taxes, power tariffs, and other charges if cutting CNG prices.