LAHORE: All Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in Punjab will go on an indefinite strike from Wednesday.
Chairman of CNG Association’s Supreme Council Ghayas Paracha announced the decision here on Friday.
Addressing a press conference, Paracha said all Lahore petrol pumps would join the strike, at least for Wednesday.
Flanked by other office-bearers of the association, Paracha said the government was bent upon destroying the entire sector.
“CNG stations are not getting gas and the owners don’t have alternative businesses to make both ends meet,” he said.
The government has to make up its mind to save the sector. The strike would continue till some verifiable steps are taken to lift the sector out of current policy quagmire, he said.
He said the petroleum sector was suffering as a result of policy debacles. The dealers’ margin was so low that it induced adulteration in petrol. The government was encouraging adulteration instead of increasing dealers’ margin. “This is pathetic, to say the least,” he said.
CNG stations throughout the province are being razed forcefully. Instead of protecting the stations, the government, as a policy measure, is shutting the doors on station owners.
In addition to directly razing stations, entry points to stations are being blocked by building footpaths and blocking U-turns. To make the matter worse, the government is not ready to settle land lease issues with station owners. All these issues are creating uncertainty for the sector and owners.
All Pakistan Petroleum Retailers Association has joined hands with CNG Association and both associations will now jointly work for their rights, the chairman said.
All that the association is asking for is gas for its stations, increase in dealers’ margin and a clear cut Punjab policy on stations.
“If the federal and provincial governments do not accept our legitimate demands by Wednesday, the association will have no choice but to go on a strike,” he said.
Paracha said CNG stations wanted to continue supply of cheap fuel to people, but the federal and provincial governments were making it hard for them.
He said petroleum retailers had formed an association and joined hands with CNG station owners to protect their rights and solve problems facing their business.