LAHORE, May 21: The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Tuesday rejected the plan of ministry of petroleum and natural resources to suspend gas supply to CNG outlets for six days on the pretext of maintenance of plants at Qadirpur gas field.

The decision to bar CNG outlets from business from May 21 to May 27 will take its toll on masses and businesses, therefore, this plan cannot be accepted, says APCNGA Supreme Council Chairman Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha.

In a statement, he says the decision of the caretaker petroleum minister is based on enmity with masses and corruption. “Why the maintenance wasn’t carried out during normal weather and initiated now when people are dying of heat.”

He says closing supply from the gas field will result in a shortfall of 400mmcfd which should have been distributed on merit among the gas consuming sectors but CNG and power sectors have been chosen while the influential sectors including captive power plants have been spared.

He says the CNG sector which is already facing wrath of the policy makers will be unable to bear the brunt of the decision as it has no other alternative like other sectors.

He says the caretaker government will be responsible for loss to masses and business community as it is behind the ‘controversial’ decision.

The leader of the CNG sector says the petroleum ministry has been trespassing on the authority of Ogra which should be noticed by the incoming government.

He says the licence issued to CNG operators clearly indicate that any decision regarding gas supply will be taken with consensus but the ministry has been taking unilateral decisions.

Ghiyas Paracha says the amendment in the priority list of gas consuming sectors by Economic Coordination Committee in March was illegal which must be undone by the incoming government.