ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Saturday criticised the move of the government to shut down all the CNG stations in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab, which has left tens of thousands of workers jobless.
The action was taken to favour the power sector known for malpractices, mismanagement and incompetence, which had become a huge liability for the country, it said.
"The government continues to ignore reforms in the inefficient power sector and continues to reward it through various controversial moves but the circular debt has not reduced but increased to unmanageable levels," said Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, central chairman APCNGA.
In a statement, he said the CNG was not subjected to such maltreatment during the last 20 years, and now it had been closed in the summer, while earlier it used to experience brief closures in winter only.
Paracha said they rejected the decision to close the CNG sector in the two provinces. "It is frequently deprived of natural gas, while it is permitted to import gas, so that it can crumble, which will never be allowed."
He said the CNG was not only keeping the environment clean and ensuring economical transport to the poor masses but it was also paying the highest taxes and highest tariff for gas on advance payment basis but it was faced conspiracies.
"It is the only sector that runs without government subsidy, it also braves the burden of subsidies to other sectors but it faces the wrath of the policymakers, which is beyond comprehension."
He said the government should put its house in order before helping private power companies such as K-Electric at a cost to other sectors. The government should take note of the step-motherly attitude towards the CNG sector, and take action against those who were conspiring against it, he demanded.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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