PESHAWAR: The CNG owners and dealers Sunday urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to announce special gas tariff relief package for neglected and coronavirus lockdown hit CNG sector.
They asked the government to take immediate steps for the sector that is a prime source of employment for many people and huge contributor to the national exchequer.
The demands came at a joint meeting of the representatives of CNG Stations Owners Associations, office-bearers and dealers, held at the Chamber House under Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Engineer Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz in chair.
The participants demanded that under the special fiscal relief package, the reduction should be made in gas tariff to Rs780 per MMBUTU (special gas tariff) for CNG sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the rest of the country that would result in good parity between CNG and petrol.
They furthermore asked to charge sales tax on the cost of gas only @ 17 per cent, while seeking 4pc income tax exemption as well.
Furthermore, the participants called to charge electricity tariff on the general industrial tariff and also demanded to allow payment of upcoming month gas bill in four equal installments to rescue the CNG industry in the wake of the coronavirus.
They were of the view that the special relief financial package would not only prevent the CNG industry from further decline or closure, but it would also maintain parity between CNG and petrol.
The participants said Rs1,238 per MMBTU is currently being charged, so it should be reduced to Rs780 per MMBTU because the present rate is very high as compared to other industries, particularly the petroleum prices are gradually decreasing in global market so it is essential to maintain good parity between CNG and petrol under the prevailing scenario. Therefore, the participants stressed the need of reduction in gas tariff.
The meeting was informed that the SNGPL’s average cost is approximately 581 per MMBTU and the country would move toward self-reliance with such initiative.
