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ISLAMABAD: The Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) strike continued for fifth consecutive day on Sunday as stations remained closed in Punjab and some parts of Balochistan.

The CNG Association started its strike last week against proposed massive hike of Rs 15 per kg in CNG prices from the next financial year starting from July 1, 2012 by raising rate of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess.

The government authorities will hit another stumbling block tomorrow (Monday) when All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association joins strike with All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) whereas the government has not yet taken any notice of APCNGA strike which has added to the woes of general public.

On the other hand, the shortage of petroleum has taken place in various parst of the country as there is an information about reduction in price of petroleum products from June 15.The closure of CNG in the most parts of the country has entered into fifth consecutive day, due to which the traffic system has been shattered. The long queues of vehicle can be seen outside the petrol pumps.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial president of CNG Association, Pervez Khattak on Sunday conditionally announced to call off strike after five days of CNG closure in the province after two days round of talks with Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour of ANP. However, Khattak made it clear that they would again go on strike, if their demands were not fulfilled within 72 hours.

The All Pakistan CNG Association Chairman has been demanding of government to stop imposing more levy on CNG sector as middle class was using CNG for mobility.

According to Paracha, the proposal for imposing more cess tax and an increase of CNG retail price will crush CNG industry as both the proposals were unjust with 4 million vehicle owners and 50 million CNG consumers.

“We will not let LPG to disturb 50 million consumers and 4 million vehicle owners and an economical travel facility of the middle class of our country,” said the Chairman of CNG Association, adding that in summer season LPG is at the cheapest price, the imported LPG is substandard, if it may provided to public absolutely free even then it is not feasible and suitable for public.

The government has also planned to further tighten noose around the Compressed Natural Gas industry by imposing a 10 per cent duty on import of CNG buses in the country in next financial year 2012-13.

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