APCNGA members in Punjab end strike

ISLAMABAD: All Pakistan Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) association members Friday called off strike across Punjab province after assurance that gas shortfall will be shared by all stakeholders except domestic sector.

“We decided to open filling stations after unanimous decision in Gas Load Management Committee meeting that gas load shedding would be shared by all stakeholders except domestic sector and situation reviewed in realistic way”, Association’ Supreme Council Chairman Ghiyas Paracha told newsmen after Gas Load Managment Committee meeting chaired by Water & Power Minister Syed Naveed Qamar here.

A sub-committee comprising Rashid Loan Managing Director SNGPL, Gohar Ejaz Chairman APTMA, Hassan Mehmood, Petroleum Ministry official and Yousuf Abdullah representative of IPP was set up to review gas situation, firm up real statistics on gas and work out strategy to distribute gas load among all stakeholders.

Paracha said it was encouraging that all members of committee were unanimous on solution of sharing load shedding by all stakeholders. “We said subsidy be removed for those sectors that were not passingon to consumers.”

Naveed Qamar said he was directed by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to hold committee meeting and noted all stakeloders were of view to resolve issue by talks. (PPA)