ISLAMABAD: In a bid to salvage world’s biggest Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) industry and mitigate sufferings of the masses, the federal government on Saturday announced to supply uninterrupted CNG for seven days a week in Punjab starting from April 1.
Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi announced this while speaking to the media after a seminar arranged by the All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA).
APCNGA officials Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha and Perviaz Khattak, Chairman Ogra Saeed Ahmed Khan, MD SNGPL Arif Hameed and others were also present on the occasion.
Abbasi said that CNG filling stations will remain open in Punjab from 10am to 4pm while the duration of Sundays would be from 6am to midnight from April 1. Moreover, the decision to reduce duration of gas loadshedding in Sindh would be announced by next week.
He said that Pakistan has the best CNG industry in the world which the government considers as an important stakeholder in the national development.
CNG sector has contributed immensely in provision of affordable transportation to millions, jobs to hundreds of thousands of people, reduction in environmental pollution and reducing oil import bill, he said.
The federal minister said that the recent decision would help owners of 3.5million CNG converted vehicles while relieving millions of queues on the CNG filling stations which was part of the governments manifesto.
Abbasi said that the gap between demand and supply of the natural gas would not have been worsened if the former governments had addressed the issue seriously.
He informed that gas imports would start before the end of current year improving overall situation while the gap would be bridged totally within five years.
Speaking on the occasion, Ghiyas Paracha said that government has not only won hearts and minds of masses and the CNG operators but ensured a balanced between gas consuming sectors which was a herculean task.
The decision will help 80 million commuters, it will reduce fares, increase government’s income, save gas and electricity while reviving the Rs450 billion CNG industry, he observed.
CNG sector has no other alternative therefore it must be on the top of gas provision priority list, Paracha demanded.