In the sweltering sun, long queues at the petrol pumps all over Pakistan present a chaotic picture of another instance of governmental mismanagement. While the CNG strike continues, the suffering of people multiplies, as the alternative to the relatively cheaper CNG, the more expensive petrol has had to be relied upon to keep vehicles on the road. In addition to the extra cost, the consumers go through the ordeal of long queues. The apparent stalemate between the All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) and the government, unless resolved immediately, will incur more financial losses and a rise in irritation for those who use CNG. In the absence of the Minister for Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain (who is presently abroad), the strike persists without any concrete outcome. The supply and demand deficit of gas has increased, imposing hardships on the common citizen and industry alike. To initiate the CNG scheme of a cheaper fuel without taking into consideration its long-term sustainability was the first folly of the planners. In a potentially gas-rich country like Pakistan, where statistically the success ratio of exploration of gas wells is one out of five, an extensive plan to speed up the process of exploration must be implemented without further delay. Instead of rushing forward with another short-term panic measure, the supply-demand gap must be reduced through a cohesive plan that would meet both industrial and fuel needs. The Rs 15 extra cess on CNG imposed recently is the immediate bone of contention. The fertilizer industry’s reliance on gas as a raw material is not being fully met; as a result the government is contemplating costly imports of urea. On the other hand, the CNG industry, with its huge investment of capital, must be treated in the context of the daily losses it incurs due to an already-regimented three days’ closure of CNG stations, and the future losses of an unestimated scale, if closed longer or permanently. It is high time the petroleum ministry devised an energy policy based on the interconnectedness of various factors: a technical estimate of supply and demand; the expediting of exploration of gas wells; an updated, modern system to extract and supply gas to different parts of the country; sensible taxation planning; devising a better, workable strategy to ensure a fair distribution of gas to CNG and industrial users, and to meet the justified demands of the CNG distributors. Otherwise, the revenue-generating cash cow of petroleum and gas will dry up and the problems of CNG users will add to the already bleak economic scenario of Pakistan. *