PESHAWAR, June 8: All Pakistan CNG Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Friday announced that it would continue its strike in the province until the government accepted its demand to rescind the decision of increase in gas price through the imposition of a gas infrastructure development cess.

The association warned that if increase in CNG price was not withdrawn the investors would also force owners of petrol pumps to shut all filling stations to mark solidarity with the association.

The announcement was made by the association’s provincial president Pervez Khan Khattak during a protest demonstration at Sher Shah Suri Road outside Peshawar Press Club. Holding banners and placards inscribed with their demand, the protesters also raised anti-government slogans for its inefficient handling of the CNG sector and making frequent increases in gas prices.

Leading the protesters, Mr Khattak said that increasing rates of CNG almost on daily basis by the government had been creating unrest among masses. He said that all political parties and people should extend cooperation to the association against the price hike because there were 3.5 million vehicles operating on CNG and people had invested billions of rupees in this sector.

Mr Khattak threatened that if the CNG price was not revised downward they would also include closure of petrol stations in their protest.

In Peshawar, it was observed that majority of CNG stations remained shut, causing serious problems for motorists, while public transport vehicles continued overcharging passengers on all routes.

The two-stroke auto-rickshaws having CNG kits were seen using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and charging more than routine fares from commuters.

Our correspondent from Swabi reported that the owners kept their CNG stations closed throughout the district. They feared that imposition of new tax on them would destroy their business because the CNG price would go up to Rs100 per kilogramme.

In Abbottabad, CNG stations remained closed for the third consecutive day on Friday. Traffic remained very thin on the roads due to the closure of CNG stations in Abbottabad and Haripur. Same was the situation in Mingora where transporters continued to overcharge commuters, saying they were using petrol to run their vehicles.