The Ministry of Petroleum and National Resources on the directives of the apex court cut the price of one kilogram CNG by Rs 30 and thanked the Chief Justice, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on the decision on cut in the price of CNG and were terming it a an Eid gift on eve of Eidul Azha, but, later resorted to unannounced strike.
According to public sector employees, who used public transport for coming to offices for duties they were expecting relief in transport fares, but the unannounced strike of CNG stations and stubborn attitude of transporters deprived them of this relief. They said that though the transporters are still getting the cheap fuel, but they are not passing the relief on to the general public.
In the present circumstances, the only beneficiary of the decision cut in the price of CNG is transporters, which are earning huge profits in garb of the partial strike of CNG stations.
The Provincial Transport Authority (PTA) and Regional Transport Authorities (RTAs) have proved impotent to pass on the relief of cut in the price of CNG to commuters. Since, cut in the price of commodity, both organisations have rendered lip services to reign in on powerful transport mafia in the province.
In this connection, when Business Recorder contacted Vice Chairman, CNG Association, Pervez Khattak, said that due to the new price of the commodity CNG stations are bearing a loss of Rs 19 to 21 per kilogram, which is intolerable.
He said that Supreme Court had given a guideline for fixation of CNG price and there was no mention of operational and manufacturing cost of the commodity. However, he said Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) deprived them of both operational and manufacturing cost, which was their right.
Pervez Khattak said that in respect of Eidul Azha and Muharram-ul-Haram, the continued provision of cheap fuel to the people and bore the loss, but now we are not in position to bear it further.
To a question, he said that the strike will continue till resolution of dispute on price issue and redressal of their loss.