PESHAWAR: All Pakistan CNG Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chairman Pervez Khan Khattak and former Chairman Fazal Muqeem Khan, expressed deep concern over the continuous shutdown of CNG in the province and termed this move as a clear violation of Article 158 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
Addressing press conference in Peshawar Press Club, they said that closure of CNG is not only the violation of constitution but also is an economic murder of the people of the province.
The officials clarified that Article 158 of the Constitution gives the first right to gas to the province from where it is produced. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is producing 4 times more gas than its requirement, despite this, it is illegal to keep the industry and CNG stations here closed.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produces more than 500 MMCFD of gas daily, while the total requirement of the province (including industry) is only 120 MMCFD. Despite such a huge surplus, suspending gas supply is tantamount to robbing the rights of the people.
The closure of the CNG sector is causing an annual loss of Rs 6 billion to the national economy, of which Rs 2 billion was received by the government in the form of direct taxes. The closure of 600 CNG stations in the province has led to starvation in the homes of thousands of employees. In addition, the jobs of millions of transporters, rickshaw drivers and mechanics are also at stake.
On the one hand, the government is closing the market early to save fuel, on the other hand, by closing cheap and environment-friendly CNG, it is causing an additional burden of 1.5 million liters of petrol per day and wasting valuable foreign exchange.
The association has demanded Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Army Chief General Asim Munir and Federal Minister for Petroleum that to restore CNG stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on an emergency basis.
The province’s gas rights should be ensured under Article 158 of the Constitution.The officials warned that if the government does not take immediate notice, All Pakistan CNG Association will be forced to hold a nationwide protest and approach the Supreme Court.
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