Over 2,000 illegal licenses for CNG stations granted: NA told

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Secretary for Cabinet Division Khurram Jhangir Wattoo on Thursday apprised the National Assembly that over 2000 illegal licenses for setting up CNG stations were given in the country and action would be taken against the concerned officials in this regard.

Replying to various supplementary Questions during Question Hour, he said that sub-committee was also constituted to probe the issue. No new legal licenses for CNG station was granted since 1999, he added.

Khurram Wattoo said that on the directives of the Supreme Court, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) directed all CNG stations owners and license holders to submit their audit report of last two years.

He said that out of total 3,395 CNG stations, 1047 submitted their complete audited accounts while owners of 983 stations submitted their incomplete reports which were returned back to them.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Secretary for National Food Security and Research Natasha Daultana informed the House that Pakistan was not self-sufficient in tea production and maximum country?s need was being met through import.

She said that at present in Pakistan cultivation/processing of back and green tea was being carried out only at National Tea Research Institute (NTRI) Shinkiari.

She said that NTRI had produced 90,609 kg black and 6,036 kg green tea since 2007 to 2011.