Gas cut to CNG sector: APCNGA stages sit-in before Parliament House

All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration and sit-in against the prolonged gas load-shedding in front of the Parliament House here on Tuesday. The protest rally and sit-in was attended by 1,000 owners of CNG stations from across the country.
Chairman, APCNGA Ghayas Abdullah Paracha led the protest attended by CNG Association other members including Central Chairman Junaid Iqbal Mukda, Chirman Punjab Chapter Fiaz Gilani, Chairman Balochistan Chapter Brigadier Iftikhar (Retd) and others.
Transport unions of twin cities of Rawalpnidi/Islamabad also participated in the sit-in. Addressing the protestors Ghayas Abdullah Paracha said that the CNG Association had tried its level best to resolve the issue through negotiations; however, the authorities are making promises sans taking any solid step to resole the issue.
He said that everybody knows that the country had sufficient gas reserves and there was no gas crisis; however poor policy and mismanagement of authorities concerned were responsible for the prevailing situation.
The government should exempt CNG sector from gas load-shedding as most of the public transport was running on CNG and load-shedding was creating severe problems for the common man. He said that at present over 3.5 million vehicles were using CNG as fuel in Pakistan, besides CNG stations were providing direct and indirect employment to thousands of poor people, adding that gas load shedding for CNG sector is depriving thousands of poor people from their livelihood.
Junaid Ismail Mukda, Central Chairman All Pakistan CNG Association, addressing the protesters said that according to the law the government was bound to ensure provision of gas to domestic consumers and CNG sector for the whole year, while industry including, fertilisers manufacturers, captive power and cement has nine months agreements, as they have alternate options to continue their production in the three winter months. The CNG association Punjab Chairman Fiaz Gilani said that the government has changed its priorities in 2009.