No gas for CNG, industrial sectors in Punjab
November 11, 2014
ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to stop the provision of gas to CNG and industrial sector in the Punjab and the federal capital for a period of four months.
Sources said that gas would not be provided to CNG stations and other industries in the Punjab and Islamabad from November 15 to March 15. The government has made this decision in order to ensure gas supply to domestic consumers, and has given approval for gas load management plan for the winter season. However, gas supply will continue in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as usual.
The sources further said that a meeting with regard to gas load management was held with Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chair. The meeting reviewed the situation with reference to gas loadshedding.
On the occasion, Abbasi said that in winter, the demand for gas by domestic consumers would increase, therefore, it would not be possible to provide gas to the CNG sector and domestic consumers would be given preference, in addition to the power sector. The sources added that it was told to the meeting that this year, more than 300,000 new gas connections were given in the domestic sector, due to which the demand for gas had swelled. It was said that if gas was not provided to the entire sector, even then it would be difficult to cater to the needs of the domestic consumers.
APCNGA press release adds: The authorities have conveniently ignored plight of the masses, its negative impact on job market and the lurching CNG sector, said Pervaiz Khan Khattak, central chairman of All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA).
He said that implementation of illegal gas load management plan would boost oil import bill, bring currency under renewed pressure and further affect trade balance while the government would lose billions in taxes.
He said that the highly flawed decision would hurt tens of millions of people across the country, leave millions jobless and degrade urban environment at an unprecedented pace.
Pervaiz Khan Khattak said that gas utilities, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and the government must turn away from the negative and unpopular policies which would choke growth and send a negative signal.
The so-called business-friendly government has shocked the masses and entire CNG community by deciding to close the sector for four months. The latest gas load management plan is illegal as CNG operators and the government are bound to follow the agreement which clearly cites continuous supply of natural gas to CNG stations for 365 days a year, he said.
The leader of CNG sector said that CNG was the only sector of the country which had no other alternative for the natural gas therefore it should get preference under all circumstances lest it crumbles.
Khattak said that gas theft had touched the mark of Rs45 billion per annum which was ignored by the authorities for obvious reasons while illegal use of gas was being promoted.
For this very reason, the gas companies have been forwarding proposals which amounts to cruelty, he said, adding that no problem was without a solution but nobody seemed interested in it due to their vested interests.
