Sources informed Daily Times that in the meeting held at the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) Head Office, the government suggested that the CNG stations should close down two days a week because of the shortage of natural gas during winters.
Talking to Daily Times, Association Chairman Ghayas Paracha said they couldn’t afford to close stations for more than one day in a week. He said the association would call for a strike if their demand were not accepted. The association also threatened to violate the government orders if a decision was forced upon them.
The association has also demanded Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar end unannounced gas load shedding. Sources said the federal government had decided to start gas load shedding across the country during winter season and there would be no exception for any province.
“Qamar has said the domestic consumers will be exempted from load shedding this year,” sources added. According to a ministry official, the load shedding policy will be uniform for all provinces and every consumer will be treated equally. However, issues will be taken up in a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee likely to be held next week. He said that ministry would try to maintain the gas supply to all sectors, but keeping in view the gap between demand and supply, every one had to face some difficulties.
According to him, the government would fulfill its agreements and the gas supply to IPPs would continue till November 30, adding that other power companies would also be supplied with gas according to agreements.