14 percent hike in gas tariff: government given seven-day ultimatum to rescind decision

Business community of Southern Punjab strongly rejected the 14 percent increase in gas tariff for all consumers of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and termed this decision unjust. President of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Khawaja Muhammad Usman has said that Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) did not take the consumers into confidence before taking this decision.
He said that tariff was increased under the pressure of IMF to collect more revenue of Rs 24 billion. He said the cost of production of export items would be increased and Pakistan would not be able to compete even with its neighbours in the global market.
He said that Pakistan should take measures to increase its exports to meet the target of 25 billion dollars. The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) South Punjab Chapter and Transporters Association Punjab on Friday gave a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government for reversing this decision.
Transporters said the federal government had taken this decision to deprive Punjab of its basic rights. "Not only CNG station owners will be affected from this decision but the people in general will also suffer due to CNG closure for five days," they added. They said they were informed about this decision on first of Ramazan, which showed that the government is not interested to provide relief to the people during Ramazan.