ISLAMABAD, May 30: Asking the government to impose a ban on the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in public service vehicles, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has directed all transport authorities to launch a crackdown on vehicles fitted with uncertified cylinders of CNG and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

A senior official told Dawn on Thursday that Ogra had been advising the federal government over the past few weeks to place a ban on the use of CNG in public vehicles.

On Thursday, Ogra Chairman Saeed Ahmad Khan wrote a fresh letter to secretary of the petroleum and natural resources ministry, reiterating his stance regarding the use of CNG in public vehicles.

The Ogra chief said that tragic accidents involving CNG cylinders were on the rise even though considerable time and energy had been spent on formulation of Standard Operating Procedures.

He said the chief justice of the Lahore High Court had taken notice of loss of lives and damage to property in such incidents and that a case was still pending before the LHC.

Mr Khan reminded the secretary that through a May 10 letter, chief secretaries, transport secretaries and inspector generals of police of the four provinces had been requested to take action against the uncertified CNG cylinders installed beneath passenger seats in public vehicles and all those involved in installing dubious CNG kits and fittings.

He deplored that no worthwhile result of the exercise was achieved and the incident of May 25 in Gujrat was an eye opener for all stakeholders. He asked the government to prevail upon regional transport authorities to launch a campaign against vehicles having uncertified CNG cylinders.