Local residents criticised both the government and filling station owners for closing supply for five days running.

ISLAMABAD: Motorists and commuters braced for the worst as compressed natural gas dealers in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad went on an indefinite strike at the end of the three-day weekly closure of sale on Sunday against the latest increase in prices and ban on provision of CNG to public transport vehicles with kits installed on the rooftops or beneath the seats.

Chairman All Pakistan CNG Association Ghiyas Paracha told a press conference at the National Press Club that the strike would continue till the government withdrew the ban.

He said it was unfair of the government to take such abrupt decisions on serious issues involving too many sectors and even the public.

The association has decided that all filling stations will remain closed on Monday too in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, he added.

In Rawalpindi, some filling stations operated by the government-run oil marketing company rejected the strike call. However, long queues of vehicles were seen outside these stations at Rawal Road, Airport Road, Bahria Town, Morgah, I.J. Principal Road and Peshawar Road.

Mr Paracha said the decision to encourage use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) was a conspiracy against the business of CNG. “There is sufficient gas in the system but the ministry concerned is providing gas only to the fertilizer factories.”

He said by encouraging the use of LPG and LNG, the authorities wanted to create differences between domestic users and CNG sector. To provide gas without any interruption, there should be 2,500 cubic metres of gas available in the system. However, on November 30, there was 2,639 cubic metres and on December 30; 2823 cubic metres of gas, so there was no reason to stop the supply to CNG stations.”

Mr Paracha alleged that Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain was trying to give an impression that there was shortage of gas in the country. Fertilizer sector has been exempted from tax; however, the CNG sector is paying 46 per cent tax but still not getting supply regularly,” he complained.

He also accused the government functionaries of deliberately manipulating the scene to find an excuse for restricting the usage of the cheap fuel, and said the CNG sector used only 7.8 per cent of gas in the SNGPL system whereas around 42 per cent of the gas went to the industrial units. “The government is forcing us to convert to liquefied natural gas (LPG) which is a more dangerous and volatile fuel. Besides, LPG is costlier than petrol and both are imported; why should we import LPG instead of petrol,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, leader of the transport association, Raja Changez Akhtar said they would also go on a strike from Monday which would continue till acceptance of their demands, including reduction in the CNG prices.

Meanwhile, the local residents criticised both the government and filling station owners for closing supply for five days running.

They urged the government to withdraw the recent increase in prices for both CNG and domestic consumers.

The commuters suffered lots of hardship as most of the transport vehicles remained off roads while the few plying between the twin cities doubled their fares claiming they were running on petrol.

The commuters also complained that wagons running between Rawalpindi and Islamabad charged Rs15 per stop instead of Rs12. “I travelled from Saddar to Shamsabad on a wagon and paid Rs10 extra,” said Inayat Hussain.

Sohail Butt, another commuter, said taxi drivers demanded Rs200 from Westridge to I-9 which used to be Rs100 before the strike.