PESHAWAR: All Pakistan CNG Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, has demanded of the government to withdraw the increase in CNG price otherwise the owners will announce strike for indefinite period against the decision.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, APCNGA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zone chairman Fazal Muqeem said that the gas tariff had gone up by 71 per cent with imposition of various taxes on the CNG sector during last 10 months which had added to the problems of the business community and customers as well.

He said that the sector was already facing multiple problems and the fresh increase in gas price would waste investments of Rs450 billion in the industry and leave thousands of people unemployed. He called for exclusion of the sector from the hike in gas prices.

Mr Muqeem said that the price of natural gas for CNG sector had been increased from Rs980 to Rs1283 per mmbtu, the highest during the last decade. He said that the unjust hike would waste the huge investment as well as render thousands of people jobless attached with this sector.

Asks govt to withdraw gas price increase

“We reject the unprecedented hike in gas tariff,” Mr Muqeem said and urged the government to immediately withdraw its decision otherwise the CNG owners will shut their filling stations and observe strike across the province.

The association chairman said that the transporters had also increased fares by 40 to 50 per cent after hike in CNG prices. He said that there was no distinction left between utilisation of petrol and CNG following the hike.

He said that the cost of doing business for them was increasing with the passage of time. He urged the government to bring down prices of gas to protect the business and avoid unemployment.

Flanked by other office-bearers of the association, Mr Muqeem said that the provincial government had shifted the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit project from diesel to CNG and thus it would also lead to escalation of the project cost. He said that the CNG stations were already suffering due to problems such as low gas pressure and power cuts.

“We have requested the government to review its decision otherwise we will start protest demonstrations and strike,” he warned.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2019