TP Report
PESHAWAR, April-17: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed serious concern over closure of CNG stations, describing it as a completely unconstitutional act and urged the provincial government to take notice to protect and prevent the CNG sector from major disaster.
SCCI strongly opposed the provincial government’s new policy for making mandatory NOC by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority from the police department for Hajj and Umrah operators, calling it an anti-business step, which must be withdrawn immediately.
According to details, a special joint meeting/gathering in honour of the All Pakistan CNG Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chapter and Hajj and Umrah Association, was arranged by Businessman Forum under chairmanship of the SCCI president Junaid Altaf here at the chamber house on Friday.
The APCNGA delegation was headed by its Chairman Pervez Khan Khattak while Hajj and Umrah Association was representing SCCI Standing Committee on Hajj and Umrah Ghazanfar Savul.
Apart from senior office bearers and members of the CNG Association, former president FPCCI and Businessman Forum Leader Ghazanfar Bilour, the chamber’s senior vice president Muhammad Nadeem, vice president former presidents Fazal Moqeem Khan, Hasnain Khurshid, Faiz Muhammad Faizi, former senior vice president Shahid Hussain and former vice presidents Javed Akhtar and Malik Niaz Awan, All Pakistan Car Dealers Association Chairman Bakht Mir Jan Durrani, Malik Niaz Awan, members of the executive committee Aftab Iqbal and Shamsur Rahim, Abdul Majid, Muhammad Imran Zeb, Kamran Zeb, Fazl e Wahid, Saddar Gul, members and senior office bearers associated with CNG and Haj and Umrah sector were present on the occasion.
Pervez Khatak, Chairman of the APCNGA apprised the meeting the real situation on the ground, stating that more than 500 CNG filling stations, which is consuming only 45 MMCFD gas on daily basis.
Mr Khattak informed that the total consumption of natural gas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is 120mmcfds summer and 200 mmcfds in winter against its gross production 500mmcfdsof the province, adding that it is completely illogical that despite the surplus production of gas, supply is being halted to CNG sector in KP.
The Association chairman said the move was against the article 158 of the constitution of the country.
He continued to say that it is a serious matter, which needs to be addressed on an emergent basis because the livelihoods of many people were attached with this important CNG sector.
When the CNG sector shutdown, how can we meet the daily demand of 1.5million litre of petrol in K-P?
President Junaid Altaf assured the delegations that the issues will be strongly taken up with the provincial government, chief minister and other higher authorities.
He said SCCI doesn’t believe in agitation and strike but if the issues were not resolved through negotiation and table talk then we will be forced to take stringent and harsh measures, he warned.
Ghazanfar Bilour, Group Leader also addressed the meeting and expressed deep concern over closure of the CNG sector in K-P.
Meanwhile, Ghazanfar Savul also informed the meeting about new policy implemented by government, according to which it had been made mandatory to hajj and umrah operators to get NOC from home and police department, stating that the move has caused delay in renewal of hajj and umrah operator licenses.
Similarly, he also expressed deep concern over increasing fare of airlines.
Mr Savul said the business community attached with the Hajj and Umrah sector already is in a serious crisis situation and such policy would further destroy this important sector and urged the government to review its policy and to ease the difficulties of the community.
