ISLAMABAD, SEP 27 (DNA) – Group leader of the All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) Ghiyas Paracha on Monday said increased import of gas will help the government save $350 to $700 million dollars in two years.

He said this while leading a delegation that met with Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin in a bid to get their outstanding issues resolved. Ghiyas Paracha briefed the finance minister about the problems and suggested long-term and short-term solutions that including freezing prices of RLNG for the CNG stations on the level of August-March and a twelve percent increase in Sales Tax should be reversed.

He also demanded abolishing Customs Duty on gas imports and informed that gas consumption shows that imports will have to be doubled from 100 mmcfd to 200 mmcfd. India and European countries are increasing utilisation of gas in the transport sector due to increasing prices of petroleum products in the international market while we already have the best system available which should be utilised, he demanded.

Ghiyas Paracha said that the private sector should be allowed to import gas which will reduce the risk of the government, circular debt will be reduced and the urban pollution will be reduced as 1.8 million trees have been planted in cities.

He said that gas sector liberalisation will end gas load shedding which will create half a million jobs in the transport and industrial sector, production costs will go down, fares will be reduced and cheap fuel will boost the energy sector while providing relief to the masses.

At the occasion, finance minister said that the government is trying to reform and liberalise the gas sector so that it can develop rapidly. He directed the secretary finance, secretary petroleum, chairman FBR, chairman OGRA and other officials to hold meetings with APCNGA officials, look deeply into their demands and furnish recommendations to reduce taxes and improve supply.

The APCNGA delegation comprised of its Central Chairman Khalid Latif, Fali-e-Muqeem Khan, Pervaiz Khattak, Syed Sajjad Haider, Irfan Ghouri, Babar Aftab Qazi and Ch. Salahuddin. = DNA

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