CONSUMERS have welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court wherein CNG prices have been decreased. It was hoped that the government will come forward in taking an initiative in the public interest but it produced no result at all and now when the initiative has been taken by the apex court, again the situation is more or less the same for the passengers who travel by CNG-run public transport.

The simple fact is that the government is showing little interest in the implementation of the decision for two important reasons.

First, all CNG pumps are owned by political stakeholders in the government and, second, the same goes with the transport services.

Although CNG prices are decreased, passengers are being charged the amount which was fixed by transporters before the decrease in CNG prices. Although the decision was taken in the public interest, so far no relief has been provided to commuters.

It is the responsibility of the people who hold public offices to ensure and regulate matters that affect the public interest. If the situation does not change, it would be difficult to minimise sufferings of the people. The government needs to go out of way to reduce the sufferings of the public.

AMJAD ALI SURHIOJohi