The Islamabad Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) on Sunday said CNG pricing issue is being delayed deliberately to please influential sectors on the cost of masses. Regretting apathy of the rules and silence of main opposition parties over the plight of the masses, it said that the crisis will have an impact on the outcome of the upcoming elections.
Politicians and bureaucracy, none of whom belongs to middle class or consumes economical fuel, remains indifferent to the masses which is contributing to the unpopularity of the government, said Farida Rashid, President IWCCI.
Speaking to business community here, she said that the Supreme Court in its landmark decision provided relief to masses which has been transformed into a never-ending crisis by some politicians to meet their ends.
A ministry known for exceeding its authority, forwarding illegal summaries and conspiring against Ogra is behind the crisis, she observed. Farida Rashid said that additional as well as questionable incentives are being offered to foreign investors in oil and gas sector but the CNG sector in which locals have invested Rs 400 billion is subjected to intrigues.
The investors in the CNG sectors would reinvest their income and would not transfer funds abroad like others, she said. Banning any type of vehicles from using economic fuel is illegal and against constitution, she said. The president of the women's chamber said that less than one percent gas is wasted in Bangladesh while the ratio stands at 13 percent in Pakistan which can be used to generate 2000MW of power. She said that a major part of wasted gas is stolen with connivance of concerned officials but the ministry of petroleum wants to charge honest consumers for its inefficiency and mismanagement which is illegal and unconstitutional.-PR