PESHAWAR: All Pakistan CNG Owners Association has urged government to announce special relief package for CNG sector to ensure its survival and save jobs of thousands of workers associated with it.

The demand was made during a meeting held at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry with SCCI president Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz in chair on Sunday.

All Pakistan CNG Owners Association central chairman Ghayas Abdulllah Paracha, APCNG provincial chairman Fazal Muqeem, All Pakistan (Real) CNG Owners Association chairman Hamad Khan, Pervaiz Khan Khattak, Khalilur Rehman, Badshah Wazir, Elafullah, Gulab Khan, Mohammad Zareef, Sikandar Khan, Minhajuddin, Bakhtiyar, retired Col Amjad Khan, Engineer Alam Khan and M Fahad Ashraf Khan along with others attended the meeting.

They described the CNG sector as prime source of employment for many poor people and huge contributor to public exchequer. They asked the government to immediately take steps to save the sector.

Association leaders fear thousands of workers will lose jobs

The participants of the meeting suggested reduction in gas tariff to Rs780 per MMBUTU for CNG sector in the country to maintain good parity between CNG and petrol.

They asked the government to charge sale tax on cost of gas only at the rate of 17 per cent. They sought four per cent income tax exemption as well.

They demanded of the government to allow payment of upcoming monthly gas bill in four equal installments to rescue the CNG industry in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. They said that a special relief financial package would not only prevent the CNG industry from further declining but would also maintain parity between CNG and petrol.

The participants of the meeting said Rs1,238 per MMBTU was currently being charged, so it should be reduced to Rs780 per MMBTU because the present rate was very high as compared to other sectors.

They said that a large number of workers would lose jobs if government failed to pay proper attention to CNG sector.

Speaking on the occasion, SCCI chief said CNG was environment friendly sector and had main role in eradication of environmental pollution and would also play integral role to save foreign exchange.

He said that besides CNG filling stations and CNG plants, cylinder makers were attached with that important sector. He said the tax revenue would be increased with enhancement of CNG sale.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2020