Officials of Oils and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) have received official notices from the Sindh High Court after it was informed that there was no proper regulation and mechanism to verify and check the CNG and LPG kits being used in the vehicles.
Akhtar Ghouri, Secretary for Transport and Mass Transit appeared before the two-judge SHC bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar when the court received the several petitions regarding the substandard CNG and LPG kits being used in the vehicles and even in school vans. He was asked to inform and to bring it to notice if there was any mechanism or regulation which was issuing fitness certificates to the vehicles which are using CNG and LPG kits.
The secretary mentioned that the real authority and responsibility lies in the Ogra which is the controlling body for issuing such fitness certificates. He further mentioned that HDIP works under the Ogra and hence Ogra is responsible for a fitness certificate and proper check on vehicles regarding this matter.
Their office was also in the city but the secretary contended that they have no sufficient means and equipment to verify and check the fitness of the vehicles. He further asked the bench to put the HDIP on notice for the explanation of the procedure they opt for ensuring the safety measure of such vehicles which work on the LPG and CNG.
The court thus issues notices to both Ogra and HDIP and also directed them to forward a relevant officer regarding this matter.
LPG and CNG cylinders are also been actively removed from the School Vans, Najeeb Khan, SSP of Traffic Police said.
In order to fully discuss this matter in the next hearing of the case in the presence of the Ogra and HDIP, the transport secretary has also submitted the copies of relevant law regarding this matter.
The petitioners highlighted that even after the court has taken action against the CNG and LPG usage in vehicles, still the public transport is violating the court’s order and no as such action is being taken against them.
Even the traffic police are asking for bribes from the motorbike riders and rickshaw drivers on main roads and if they refuse, a fine is imposed on them. And recently, due to this, a rickshaw driver has committed suicide, Tariq Mansoor, Muzammil Mumtaz and other petitioners said in court.
The home secretary, traffic DIG, transport secretary and others as the respondents came forward and had asked the court to bring these incidents in the notice and take strong action against the personnel involved in such bribe cases and to restrain vehicles which are using substandard CNG and also the vehicles which are involved in overloading.
Drop your thoughts in the comments section below.
