RAWALPINDI, Aug 14: As CNG consumers are multiplying rapidly following an unprecedented rise in fuel prices, a tug of war between the All-Pakistan CNG Association and the Oil and Gas regulatory Authority (Ogra) is going on fixation of new CNG prices.

CNG operators are adamant to sell CNG at a price of their own choice which is higher than the price fixed by the government while Ogra wants to fix its own price to give relief to CNG consumers.

People had received a big jolt last month when CNG stations had abruptly raised CNG rate from Rs38.80 to Rs48.38 per kg without the consent of the government.

The continuing tug of war between Ogra and CNG operators has, so far, brought no relief to CNG consumers, who are already groaning under the burden of high cost of living, amid a 24 per cent inflation recorded in July.

Earlier, CNG was the only cheap source of energy for public and private transport but after skyrocketing prices of petroleum and CNG products, consumers are increasingly expressing their anguish.

The rising CNG prices may also discourage launching of CNG-based public transport in major cities of the country.

“It is more than a month now that the government is silent over rising CNG prices and it amounts to challenging the writ of the government,” said a consumer.

According to the All-Pakistan CNG Association, Ogra is unilaterally determining the input cost without the consent of the association and it intends to slash the price by at least by Rs10 per kg against the current price of Rs48.38 per kg.

The CNG operators had fixed prices at their own will on the plea that the federal and provincial governments have imposed additional taxes and duties in the 2008-09 budget, forcing them to rise the price of CNG.

Sana-ur-Rahman, Chairman of All-Pakistan CNG Association said the executive body of the association was not comfortable the way Ogra was handling the issue.

“We are not on board in any discussion on the issue despite our repeated requests to Ogra and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources,” he told Dawn. The association believes that Ogra had finalised new price and may be issuing a notification.

Dawn contacted a couple of senior Ogra officials to ascertain their view on the position taken by CNG association, but they refused to make any comment, saying that the Ogra chairman was the only competent authority to speak on the subject.