The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday condemned conspiracies against world's largest CNG industry worth Rs 450 billion by some influential quarters. A lobby continues to misguide the government in the CNG issue headed by an official of a gas company who is considered above the law, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.
In a statement issued here Sunday, he said that the gas theft has reached alarming proportions but the said officials cannot be held responsible due to his political connections. He said that the same lobby has been trying to frustrate LNG import project while the gas is purchased on inflated rates for personal welfare and dishearten the millions of consumers.
Dr Murtaza Mughal said that former government demonstrated record mismanagement in the energy sector therefore the incumbent government must show some positive development. The government has passed on the full impact of gas theft to the CNG industry that utilises imported LNG while supply chain is being disrupted to ensure instability.
He said that those who had promised to end lines of CNG stations in their manifesto released on March 7, 2013 have failed to check conspiracy to lay waste to this industry which is unfortunate. The manifesto referred to the word energy 42 times but it proved to be a hollow promise, he observed. Many countries including US, India, Bangladesh and Thailand are promoting CNG industry while it is being strangulate din Pakistan which is amazing, he said.