Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Islamabad
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has decided to take strict action against unilateral hike in prices of CNG at filling stations of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
?We have decided to disconnect gas supply to CNG stations or seal them found involved in selling CNG at higher rates,? the spokesperson for Ogra told ?The News?. He termed the sale of CNG at higher rates without getting permission from the Ogra an illegal activity.
It may be pointed out here that the owners of various CNG stations themselves increased rates of CNG from Rs75.44 per kilogram to Rs83.90 per kilogram on Monday afternoon and continued to sell it at the enhanced rate till Tuesday morning without any check.
The consumers remained under the impression that the government had increased rates of CNG and they did not raise any objection at the time of getting CNG filled in cylinders of their vehicles.
On the other hand, the owners of CNG stations increased the CNG rates on the pretext that they were doing so to cover cost of operating power generators due to electricity loadshedding. But it was noticed that the owners who were not operating generators also enhanced rates of the CNG by Rs10 to Rs15 per kilogram.
The spokesperson for Ogra said that the authority would constitute teams, which would conduct raids on CNG stations to check any kind of violation. ?We will also give a public notice for information of the public in Wednesday?s newspapers,? he said.
When contacted All Pakistan CNG Association (APNCGA) Supreme Chairman Ghayas Abdullah Piracha said the association has written as many as 113 letters to the Ogra in the last few months seeking increase in price of CNG, but to no avail.
He was of the view that they could not sell CNG at present rates due to increase in electricity tariffs and also due to loadshedding because they also have to operate generators. ?We will be forced to close CNG stations, if our demands are not met,? he added.
Piracha said that due to increase in CNG holidays to five days, it was not possible to meet expenses on operation of CNG stations, therefore, increase in profit was also required saying there was also issue of reduction in General Sales Tax (GST) rates.
He said the CNG business will only become somewhat viable if the prices are raised by Rs10 per kg minimum otherwise CNG operators would be forced to close businesses resulting in massive joblessness.
Ogra to take action against CNG stations supplying gas at inflated rates - thenews.com.pk