CNG dealers plan indefinite strike from Dec 30

ISLAMABAD: CNG dealers have announced an indefinite strike across the country from Dec 30 in protest against the government’s decision to raise CNG prices and curtail gas supplies to CNG stations. Transporters have also announced their support for the strike. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of CNG dealers who had gathered in Islamabad on Wednesday, CNG Association of Pakistan chairman Ghayas Paracha said the government was bent upon destroying the CNG sector. It is not only a matter of CNG stations, the government will have to consider the overall impact of its decision which could lead to the collapse of the entire industry,” he added. He said the government had gone back on its commitment made in 1992 that the price difference between CNG and petrol would be 50 per cent. “They wanted to encourage CNG at that time and made us invest in the new field. We took the risk of importing equipment. Some parts are now being manufactured in the country. We will not allow the price of CNG to be near that of petrol,” Mr Paracha said. There are about 2,500 CNG stations in Punjab and the NWFP and 542 in Sindh and Balochistan. More than 2.5 million vehicles are operating on CNG. Dealers said that an investment of Rs185 billion had been made in the CNG sector. Mr Paracha said that any further increase in CNG prices would severely affect the industry which provided jobs to half a million people. He said the CNG price would go up to Rs57 per kilogram after the 13.6 per cent increase in electricity tariff from January. The government has already raised the tariff by six per cent in October. The dealers also criticised an offer made by the textile sector at a recent meeting with officials to buy all CNG stations. “Instead of getting into the CNG business, the textile sector should focus on giving up subsidies and grants given to it by the government,” they said. They said that even Rawalpindi Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Kashif Shabbir had stated that the decision to increase the CNG price was not helpful of any sector. Immediately after the dealers’ call for strike, office-bearers of the transport association announced complete support for the strike.