CNG was being provided to Lahore: Khaqan Abbasi
18 January, 2015
ISLAMABAD – Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Saturday 17,January,2015 said CNG was being provided to Lahore as an alternative source of fuel for two days to overcome petrol shortage.
He said that there was shortage of petrol in other cities of Punjab as well but Lahore was worst hit. The minister said it was not possible to supply gas to CNG stations but the step was taken to overcome petrol temporary shortage. CNG could not be provided to other cities of the province as the domestic consumers would get affected by doing the same, he said.
Abbasi said that domestic consumers were priority of the government as gas supply to industries and fertilizer sector was shut. He said that petrol situation was improving as the government had taken a number of steps in this regard including increase in its supply on daily basis, adding, the situation would normalize within a week. The temporary shortage in the federal capital and some areas of Punjab was due to a sudden increase in petroleum demand following reduction in its price, he mentioned.
The minister informed that petrol demand had increased upto 25 per cent in the month of January as compared to that in December in Punjab and the government was making efforts to arrange additional fuel to meet its growing demand. To a question regarding gas shortage in Punjab, the minister said the domestic demand of natural gas in winter season was more than the supply which was the reason for its shortage.
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