Punjab governor vows to get CNG industry’s problems resolved

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman on Monday assured the All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) that he will soon raise the issues of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) industry before the federal government and will try his level best to get them resolved.

A delegation of the APCNGA comprising representation from all districts of Punjab led by Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha met with the Governor Punjab and briefed the governor about the problems currently being faced by the CNG industry. The delegation also presented their recommendations to solve the problems of the CNG industry. And, the governor has assured the delegation of his full cooperation and support and promised to solve the serious problems of the CNG industry as soon as possible.

The Punjab governor, during the course of the meeting, informed the APCNGA delegation that he will present the case before the federal government and he will leave no stone unturned to get all the problems resolved as early as possible.

While briefing the Punjab governor about the issues being faced by the CNG sector, Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha said that the incumbent government is seriously faced with balance of payment issues and this issue can be resolved within no time with the promotion/use of CNG as an alternate fuel for the motor vehicles. Similarly, foreign remittance can be saved by approximately $2.1 billion per annum on account of fuel import bill while 50pc cut in public transport fares is also possible and circular debt can be reduced by Rs1,500 billion besides minimising the environmental pollution by ensuring a gigantic reduction in the carbon emissions with the use of eco-friendly CNG as a fuel for motor vehicles.

Furthermore, revival/ expansion of the CNG sector can generate thousands of new employment/job opportunities while the use of CNG as an alternative fuel for motor vehicles is equivalent to having an environmental benefit of 152.63 million trees per annum.

Speaking on the occasion, Paracha also requested the Punjab governor to immediately get restored the gas supply to the CNG stations of Punjab province which are facing closure for the last seven months (7th December 2021 till date) to save the public from the impact of rising oil prices in the international oil market.

Paracha also told the governor that the CNG is still cheaper than the prevailing petrol price and the CNG industry can provide 43 per cent and 55pc cheaper eco-friendly fuel to the motor vehicles in comparison with the price of petrol and diesel respectively in order to provide immediate relief to the public only if the government facilitate CNG industry to purchase and bring gas to meet the needs of CNG industry.

The APCNGA delegation in a statement expressed their satisfaction with the assurances of the governor Punjab.

The delegation said that they are hopeful that the Punjab governor will get resolved the issues of the CNG industry in the near future.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022