CNG woes: Can't you see how miserable you are making us?

Seeing the price of CNG, I happily took a picture from my phone at the petrol pump.It seemed like a dream come true!

Sidrah Moiz December 05, 2012
When I heard that CNG prices would be reduced, I was ecstatic. I, along with people all over Pakistan, celebrated this development.

This reduction was intended to bring respite to the people in an environment of growing expenses and high inflation; it is no secret that here in Pakistan, even buying bare necessities have become difficult for the common man.

Following this price cut, I enthusiastically took a picture from my phone of the new prices stated on the CNG pumps. It all seemed like a dream come true.

Now, it is no less than a nightmare, not just to me, but to all others who once rejoiced over the price cut.

I was happy with paying Rs30.38 extra just to be able to peacefully get my car’s cylinder filled five days a week, while I would have to pay alternatively for petrol on weekends, which would not hurt my pocket as much as it does now.

Life was never this hard.

Of late, however, there is an influx of cars on the road — you know why? Because the cars queued to get CNG occupy the roads, leaving no space for the traffic to pass through. Cylinder blasts are more frequent now — the reason being that drivers have to convert their vehicles from CNG to LPG when the former runs out.

The long lines and traffic jams have become a menace for us citizens. It’s not just a waste of money for us anymore; it has all sadly become a concoction of money, time and life loss. Precious time is wasted waiting and since there is no system to monitor the growing queue of cars, which wind around corners of pumps, intercepting intersections, those waiting in their cars bear the brunt of incessant honking from passing cars, as if the whole thing is somehow our fault — like we chose to wait in our cars purely out of boredom.

I, as an ordinary citizen of Pakistan, who is restricted in the bounds of a monthly budget, would like to request that the CNG association and owners decide the price.

Let them charge us some extra money — for good things in life, including peace of mind, don't come for free!

Read more by Sidrah here or follow her on Twitter @seedwah 
WRITTEN BY:
Sidrah Moiz
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (44)

Baba Ji | 11 years ago | Reply CNG woes: Can’t you see how miserable you are making us? correction Sidrah Moiz Khan bittiya CNG woes: Can’t you see how miserable we have made ourselves of us? reap the fruits of democracy ... enjoy your power of vote !!!!
Shahzad | 11 years ago | Reply @Ayesha Khan First of all I dont know where you are getting your facts but they are not entirely true. 1) The 15% UFG for gas ofcourse includes CNG as well - They ain't saints but a simple caclulation and information about gas can lead you to decide who is stealing the most. The sector which consumes 8% of the total gas production - how much can it steal ? How does one steal gas ? Who was caught gas stealing in recent past ? 2) Yes I am sure there are many politicians who own CNG stations but PML - N - really ? The cartel of fertilizer companies is known to all - I need not say more but FAUJI FERTILIZER leads it. 3) Gas is indeed a raw material for fertilizer companies and they pay Rs 60 per MMBTU as per OGRA website for usage as feedstock. The cheapest rate amongst all sectors. Why cant they be switched to some other fuel ? Now tell me who decides the profit margins of textile companies which you said will not be able to compete internationally if they switch to furnace oil ? I am sure you know the number of rebates available to them by the government and the kind of frauds they have involved in on the pretext of exports. The balance of payment crisis will be far bigger if your turn quater million cars to run on petrol again which is also imported. 4) The price for gas used as feed stock for fertilizers is Rs 60 per mmbtu, for two units Engro and another and for remaining companies its Rs 116 per mmbte. Rs 460 if they use it for power generation etc. This is from Ogra's notification - available on their website. The price of fertilizer is determined by market forces and in line with international prices which is exactly the point - when they get the cheapest gas possible even cheaper than domestic / commercia/ power / CNG users then why are they selling at international prices for domestic customers? 5) I have no idea about this but sense might have prevailed. And honestly if i can get gas at Rs 60 per MMBTU and make 400% profit then i will also pay for the pipeline. 6) The level of knowledge and information you have shared I am sure you understand how our taxation system works. What is our total tax base and how much do they pay ? The industries pay tax on their net income after accounting for every possible expense , tax planning and bribe . The percentage and amount you can get easily. But we largely rely on indirect taxes on necessities like fuel, electricity etc which are paid at source. Similarly CNG has to pay tax with their monthly bills on revenues rather than profits. You can just do the maths. Import bill is the biggest question and it has the same affects for every one. CNG is a fuel for middle class . 7) I don't know what you are talking about. 8) I absolutely agree that SC has no business in deciding price of any thing. Its solely about the demand and supply equation. The proposal for parity should be deliberated as well ? Like Mr. Zardari the government of Pakistan will further loose its credibility with such rapid change of policies making people like me spend Rs 30K on a CNG kit and then change the plan all again. 9) Who is to question subsidies ? Why do you want to subsidize Fertlizers ( 0.2%) Why do you want to subsidize the farmers - feudals of pakistan ( 1%). Why do you want to subsidize Textile ? Why power producers ? 10) The fact is we don't have a energy policy or if we had it - some medical doctor who only knows how to rub arms and a.... found out ways to make money and changed it all. You know our biggest problem is we dont respect law ? We can change the constitution for the benefit of the few. We can change policies just like that - Is this the Pakistan you want ? 11) Think before passing judgements like what is necessary and what is not - let's evaluate who is doing what - who is benefiting and who is loosing ? what makes people happy or sad ? and then decide.
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