Second day CNG strike: Ministry feels the heat

ISLAMABAD, April 14: Under pressure because of the strike, the Ministry of Petroleum has called a meeting to review situation of gas supply today and hinted at ending the two-day weekly off for the CNG filling stations from next month. Majority of the CNG filling stations remained closed in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on the second consecutive day on Thursday. With less public transport on the road, people faced long waits at bus stops and paid cabs higher fares to reach their destinations. Motorists patiently waited throughout the night and the day outside the CNG filling stations. On Thursday Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani directed the ministry to convene a meeting of Gas Load Management Committee on Friday to review the gas supply situation in the country. The prime minister also directed that the representatives of `major stakeholders` should be called to the meeting and find solutions to minimise the pr oblems of the industry and the people. The stakeholders include All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma), fertilizer industry, power plants, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Sui Southern Gas Company, Sui Northern Gas Company and the three CNG associations. In his directive, the premier asked the committee to analyse the gas shortage situation and `rationalise` distribution to lessen problems of the people. The filling stations in Punjab went on an indefinite strike on Wednesday on the call of All Pakistan CNG Association (APCA) to press the government for ending the two-day weekly off and unfair gas distribution. Filling stations owned by the powerful and the oil marketing companies remained opened at Peshawar Road, Adiala Road, Tulsa Road, Dheri Hassanabad, Bakra Mandi, Chungi No. 22, Benazir Bhutto Road, Sadiqabad, Rawal Road and Bostan Khan Road in Rawalpindi and F-8, F-7, I-9, I-8, G-7 and other parts of the capital city. Bu t they could not deal with the demand in the twin cities. While the strike call has been given by the APCA in Punjab only, the ministry also called the CNG associations` representatives from Karachi also.