ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday has issued directives to maintain the current prices of CNG until Dec 20, DawnNews reported.

Moreover, the bench also issued order for the decision made in the Economic Coordination Committee’s (ECC) last session to be presented at the next hearing.

A two-member bench of the apex court comprised of Justice Jawwad S. Khwaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain heard the case.

During the previous hearing, the SC had directed Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to complete auditing of all CNG stations by Dec 17.

During today’s proceedings, the Ogra presented a formula for CNG pricing, which proposed CNG prices for Region I to be kept at Rs 74 per kilogram and for Region II at Rs 65 per kilogram.

The court questioned the method of setting the CNG prices used by Ogra.

Earlier today, Ogra had requested Supreme Court to set the interim price of CNG. The bench replied that the court would not be directly involved in the setting of prices. However, it was further said that if the public was adversely affected, then the court would intervene in the matter.

Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja remarked that those responsible for setting the prices were not discharging their duties properly.

During the hearing, the counsel for Ogra told the court that the CNG prices matter would be presented to the cabinet tomorrow during their session. Justice Khilji told Ogra’s counsel to ensure whether or not the cabinet meeting was taking place tomorrow, adding that the public was experiencing difficulties and the cabinet was ‘resting’.

Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned until Dec 20.