PESHAWAR, Sept 13: The NWFP government is devising a strategy to check the mushroom growth of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in the province, Industry Secretary Zia-ur-Rehman said here on Thursday.

He said the government wanted to protect the new ‘industry’ and steps were being taken to cancel No Objection Certificates (NOCs) already issued to some of the CNG stations.

The unhindered growth of gas stations in violation of rules and regulations

in the province, particularly in Peshawar, has heightened concerns among people and even prompted the CNG association to observe a two-day strike last month.

According to CNG operators, the minimum distance between two gas stations as per the district government’s rules was 300 metres inside and 1000 metres outside the city limits.

Speaking at a meeting held here at the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the official said the mushroom growth of CNG stations might hurt investments worth billions of rupees.

The secretary said the government was reviewing the process of issuing NOCs to gas stations.

Briefing the business community about the steps taken by the government for industrialisation in the province, he said the Bank of Khyber (BoK) had been directed to give loans to entrepreneurs for industrial projects on favourable terms.

On the occasion he assured all those present that the issue of levy of duty on self-power generating industrial units would be taken up soon.

The provincial government recently imposed surcharge on self-power generating industrial units in the province.

Sarhad Development Authority (SDA) chairman Fareedullah Khan informed the gathering that a plan for constructing the boundary wall around the Hayatabad Industrial Estate had been formulated which had been sent to the provincial government for approval.

He said that steps were being taken to upgrade the existing infrastructure at the industrial estates in the province.

Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Liaqat Ahmad Khan and other office-bearers also spoke on the occasion.