RAWALPINDI: The federal government has again changed the gas loadshedding schedule for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in Punjab and from next week the filling stations will open three days a week but for eight hours.

At present, CNG is available for nine hours a day, two days a week in Punjab.

This was decided at a meeting between Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and representatives of All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) including Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, chairman Supreme Council and chairman Pervaiz Khan Khattak.

After the meeting, Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha told Dawn that the government would announce the new schedule on Sunday or Monday. He, however, said Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) was working on the timing.

He said the government was trying its best to import the LNG at the earliest which would mitigate energy crisis and resolve CNG issues ensuring its round the clock availability.

He said the minister was of the view that CNG was a very critical sector playing vital role in national development. The importance of this sector could not be underestimated, he said. He said that the minister had clarified that the government had no plan to wind up CNG sector.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2014