The All Pakistan CNG Association has announced to start a protest if the decision to extend the duration of CNG load-shedding in Lahore region to three days a week is continued in the winters.
The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has decreased gas supplies to CNG stations in order to overcome the gas shortage. Earlier, the gas supply was suspended for two and half days per week, which would now be extended into a three days per week suspension. The gas supplies to CNG stations would be stopped at 6am Monday morning and it would remain closed till 6am Thursday morning.
Consumers said two and half days gas closures had caused huge problems for them, but the three day closure would make their lives miserable. They said they had to run their vehicles on petrol, which was very expensive. “It was hard to cope with the two and half day gas closure, but the three day closure would be a direct assault on our pockets,” said a CNG-user, Fahad Malik, adding that the mobility of people was being affected by this decision.
CNG station owners said their businesses had been reduced by 40 percent because of the three days closure and it had become hard for them to run their businesses. “CNG stations are closed for three days in a week – there is drastic decrease in sales,” said a CNG station owner, Muhammad Siddiq at College Road, adding that the government should not take decisions which would be lethal for the public and businessmen.
All Pakistan CNG Association Central Executive Committee Senior Vice Chairman Raja Anwer said the association was planning to launch a protest against this unjust decision and would soon announce the protest campaign, adding that it had become impossible for CNG stations to run their businesses.
