KARACHI, Jan 5: The three associations of CNG dealers and station owners jointly decided on Monday not to call a strike or go for any shutdown of pumps after an invitation from the Finance Advisor Shaukat Tarin for a meeting.

The All Pakistan CNG Association had planned to announce a strike or closure of pumps on Monday, chairman CNG Station Owners Association of Pakistan Malik Khuda Bux said.

He said that he had highlighted the problems of the CNG industry to Shaukat Tarin two days back at a function in Karachi where he had promised that the industry representatives would be called for a meeting in two to three days to discuss their problems.

He added that the industry people were of the view that first they would meet the adviser before taking any future course of action. Malik said that the finance adviser also assured that the government would involve the industry in future decisions on the CNG.

He urged the government to take back the increase in gas rates. He added that the CNG dealers and station owners had not passed the impact of recent gas price hike onto the consumers.

Chairman CNG Dealers Association Abdul Sami Khan hoped that talks with advisor would resolve the lingering issues of the CNG industry, which was facing problems owing to falling demand of CNG.