ISLAMABAD: The government has planned to gradually phase out CNG stations as they cause heavy losses to Pakistan’s economy, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain told the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources here Wednesday.

The NA standing committee held a meeting here today with Engineer Muhammad Tariq Khattak in the chair.

Dr Asim Hussain said CNG stations were causing heavy losses by wasting gas, a valuable commodity, which should instead be used for the purpose of industrialization, investment and domestic use.

He said that in the transport sector, CNG should only be utilised by public transport vehicles and the rest of the vehicles should be discouraged.

During today’s meeting, the committee directed the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources to intervene and mediate between the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and the All Pakistan CNG Association to fix reasonable CNG prices in order to give relief to the public.

The committee issued the directive to come up with a solution before December 5.

The meeting was attended by Nawab Ali Wasan, Jamshaid Ahmed Dasti, Ch. Asghar Ali Jatt, Syed Anayat Ali Shah, Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, Rana Afzaal Hussain, Rana Muhammad Ishaq Khan, Abdul Waseem, Syed Haider Ali Shah and Muhammad Usman Advocate; and officials of Ministry of Petroleum, PSO, Ogra, SNGPL and OGDCL.