SC orders CNG prices to remain unchanged till December 17

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered that CNG prices remain unchanged till 17 December and the licenses' of those CNG stations not conducting an audit should be suspended.

A two member bench headed by Justice Jawaad Khawaja heard the CNG price case on Thursday.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) in its reply stated that the authority issued 6,154 temporary licenses against 6,471 applications received. Permission for 3,395 marketing licenses were allowed from 2002 to 2011, it added.

CNG stations were fined for about Rs10.7 million in three years while 380 show cause notices were served. Warnings were issued to 131 outlets and around 1273 pumps were inspected, the statement added.

OGRA further states that as per 1992 CNG rules, it is not necessary to submit audit accounts or income tax returns, adding it is also not mandatory for issuing licenses, however, five pumps have submitted their audit accounts.

OGRA further states that as per 1992 CNG rules, it is not necessary to submit audit accounts and income tax returning, adding it is also not mandatory for issuing licenses, however, five pumps have submitted their audit accounts.

Meanwhile, FBR report says that Rs4.9 billion were collected as tax from CNG sector during 2009 to 2011.