Sir: The CNG Association is on strike against the possible 15-17 percent increase in its price from July 1, 2012 by the ‘people-friendly’ government. The government was claiming that their last budget would be tax-free. The increase in CNG prices is one of the proofs. The government is fully committed to destroy the CNG sector and promote LPG as some vested interests want to earn a ‘little’ from that source now. I do not think this happens anywhere in the world other than Pakistan that an established industry is wilfully being ruined. On the one hand, the government has taken more loans than in the last 60 years in its tenure and on the other hand, it is destroying industry with the absence of gas and electricity. Where has all that money gone? I fully agree with the CNG Association’s plea that the government should not increase its price and should try collecting tax from the wealthy that have millions to bribe for their cases in the Supreme Court.
I was surprised to see the Secretary Petroleum Ejaz Choudhry’s statement in the media that the public should not support the CNG strike. None of the public representatives has moral courage to come out to talk to the public and solve this problem. I wish Mr Gilani comes out of his luxurious palace only a few kilometres and see how people are suffering in this scorching heat due to the CNG crisis. I consider the opposition, including the PML-N, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and others equally responsible for this public misery as they have not come out to be with the public and sent a strong message to the diminishing government. I urge the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take sou motu action on this problem and order the government not only to reduce the CNG prices but also ensure that all provinces including Punjab get CNG for the maximum time in the week as it is peak summer time, not freezing January.
ABDUL RAUF
Fateh Jang