LAHORE, Feb 9: The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Saturday rejected the decision of the government to provide natural gas to CNG outlets in Lahore and Faisalabad regions for two days a week for being “unworkable and unacceptable”.

CNG closure for 22 days a month will not provide any relief to masses deprived of economical fuel, says Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, chairman of APCNGA Supreme Council. “No business can remain viable when it operates for mere eight days a month.”

He says the CNG filling stations are no exception to the well-defined trade and industry principles. The CNG sector has no alternative available but the natural gas which is available in ample quantity as the weather has normalised reducing peak demand for the commodity.

Paracha says the gas demand has receded resulting in full pressure in the 8,000-km SNGPL network, leaving little room for authorities to keep masses deprived of CNG on one pretext or other. “The gap in the demand and supply of gas could have been decreased if there had any will to contain leakages and control increasing theft.”

Paracha says the government should immediately order reopening of all CNG outlets for seven days a week in order to ensure relief to masses and keep CNG business feasible.

The leader of CNG sector says the adviser to prime minister on petroleum has triggered many disputes while he transformed the energy and CNG into chief controversial issue.

The decisions of Dr Asim deprived masses of economical fuel, left millions jobless and put at stake investments in the CNG sector which has not gone down well with any section of society as well as foreign investors.

He says the government should compensate CNG sector for losses and fix the responsibility on those who conspired for importing costly liquid gases in the country in the garb of resolving energy crisis. “The APCNGA will continue to carry out protests and stage sit-ins for the rights of Punjab if the government fails to fulfill our demands.”