ISLAMABAD, Feb 29: Against the promises it made at the start of year that the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess would not be imposed any further on the CNG sector, the petroleum ministry on Wednesday levied another 20 percent cess on CNG.

With the current levy, the CNG price has jumped by another Rs1.77 per kg to Rs77.12 per kilogram in the Potohar region.

This is the second increase in CNG rates in two days as FBR had imposed GST on the cess on Monday as a result of which CNG rates were increased by Rs1.06 to Rs75.35 per kilogram in the Potohar region. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has notified the new prices, which will be applicable from March 1, 2012.

Since, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are gas load shedding days in the Potohar region, the shock of new prices would be felt by the consumers from Saturday night after 10 pm, when the CNG stations restart their operations.

As per the Ogra notification CNG prices in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Potohar region, will be Rs77.12 per kilogram.—A Reporter