The gas utility notified that all the CNG stations in Sindh would remain closed for 48 hours from 9am on Wednesday to 9am on Friday.

When asked about the unscheduled closure, Petroleum and CNG Dealers Association Chairman Abdul Sami Khan said they were not doing anything wrong as they had permission by law to close their stations if they were making a loss. “They have been allowed by the Supreme Court to do this as during his arguments before Justice Gulzar Ahmed the other day our attorney Hafeez Pirzada had said that the administration was making us keep the gas stations open despite making a loss due to the ordered reduction in gas prices. The judge had then allowed the stations to close down or not sell gas if they were making a loss,” he explained.

“So you may see several stations closing until we have our meeting with Ogra [Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority] to set new sale rates, which is scheduled for Monday Nov 26,” said the chairman.

The press release issued by the SSGC stated: “SSGC regrets the inconvenience which may be caused to the CNG users during the above notified 48-hour shutdown,” it added.