Transporters, APCNGA observe strike against CNG closure in Sindh
KARACHI: Few CNG stations reopened on Saturday morning after remaining closed for two days in Karachi, however All Pakistan Compressed Natural Gas Association and the Karachi Transport Ittehad are...
January 11, 2014
Citizens faced immense difficulties today morning when they could not find transport to commute to work. Bus stops were crammed as people waited for hours for public transport. Long queues of vehicles were also witnessed at CNG filling stations as only few stations were supplying gas.
Petroleum and CNG Dealers and Stations Owners Association has declined to support the strike.
APCNGA Sindh President Shabbir Sulemanjee had announced at a press conference on Friday that all private CNG stations will remain closed and public transport will remain off the roads for an indefinite period of time.
Both associations had issued a strike warning earlier as well but after guarantees by the ministry of petroleum, had withdrawn the call. The SSGC managing director had also met with KTI and APCNGA representatives and the standoff was averted for a while as the SSGC stopped conducting 48-hour shutdowns in Sindh.
However, much to the chagrin of the APCNGA and KTI, the SSGC announced another shutdown of 48 hours within the same week. According to Sulemanjee, the APCNGA and the SSGC had mutually decided upon the CNG load shedding schedule for the winters.
KTI President KTI Syed Irshad Hussain Bukhari said that the private sector has invested a huge amount in CNG. “Thousands of people have converted their vehicles and transporters are also running their vehicles on CNG. We appeal to all the concerned quarters to resolve this crisis on an immediate and permanent basis,” he said.
The strike will only end once the government accepts the CNG industry’s legitimate demands. “Our only demand is that the SSGC only close supply in Sindh on alternate days, “said the APCNGA and KTI leaders.
