No change in CNG price till next hearing: SC

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Supreme Court Pakistan issued order to keep the CNG price unchanged till the next hearing   of the CNG and petroleum products price case till November 19.

Hearing the case Chief Justice Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that the court had not conducted an assessment of CNG prices and had left the matter to the Oil & Gas Regulation Authority (Ogra).

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) submitted a formula for fixing the CNG price at the hearing. Ogra recommended ending the operating costs to collect Rs 5.75 in production costs.

Ogra also proposed lowering the CNG station owners' profits  from Rs 11.20 to Rs 2.95 per kilogram.

The chief justice also took notice of a televised statement by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain the Advisor Petroleum in which he had said that a mafia was hindering the resolution of the petrol price case.

The chief justice expressed his displeasure at the statement and said there was no concept of mafia in the court. The mafia mentioned by Dr Asim was a big challenge as well as a surprise to the court, he added.

During the hearing, Justice Jawad S. Khawaja remarked that the CNG Association was a cartel and it appeared as if it had been formed by the government. He added that the actual price of CNG was far less than it was at present.

Justice Khawaja added that it was Ogra's duty to protect the rights of the consumers.

End.