The owners of CNG station have announced to keep their pumps closed in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Sunday (today) as All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) has decided to go on a strike in protest against the federal government's decision to increase CNG prices and a proposal to shut down CNG station for a month to meet the gas shortage.
Talking to Business Recorder President Mutahida Transporters Union Muhammad Sultan said that the government had failed to provide CNG to public transport on priority basis. He said that in the recent past the government promised to give CNG to public transport.
He said that Public Transport could not survive without CNG because other fuel sources would be unaffordable for transporters. He said that if the government decided to close CNG stations for a month the transport fairs would be unbearable for common people.
"The gesture of government seems to be a conspiracy against the CNG sector," he added. Trades of the twin cities were of the view that the closer of CNG stations and expensive gas prices would increase prices of perishable and other essential items of daily use manifold. Traders said that by increasing the price of CNG the transportation load would be shifted to petrol and diesel, which would raise the transportation cost of essential goods. Traders of twin cities appealed to the government to decrease the prices of fuel and review its policy.
Talking to Business Recorder People of twin cities said that they were now worried about earning their bread. People were of the view that the government has failed to provide them with basic needs. People said that if the public transport was suspended they would see a disastrous situation in future. People said that by increasing the gas prices there would be extra burden on them as they were already living hand to mouth due to the expensive electricity, food, gas etc.
People said that the government would have to fulfil its promises with public. It is pertinent to mention here that 500,000 public transport vehicles including buses and vans run on CNG, while a number of vehicles on CNG were being used for transportation of goods in Pakistan. The total consumption of gas by CNG sector is 250 mmcfd per day. Due to closer of CNG stations people in twin cities will be affected badly.