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CNG, petrol prices cannot be linked: CJ

ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that the prices of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and petrol cannot be linked and summoned the managing directors of Sui Southern and Sui Northern gas companies on Thursday. The CJ issued these remarks while hearing the petroleum prices case here on Wednesday. The Supreme Court also expressed anger at the policy to evaluate the prices of petroleum products and CNG on a weekly basis and have sought relevant details in this regard. The Chief Justice it seemed as if two companies were enjoying a sort of monopoly under which they take decisions according to their own will. He said the unfair treatment meted out to the people will not be tolerated and warned that the court will have to issue some kind of an order tomorrow. The CJ sought a reply from Chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) as to who had directed him to link the price of CNG with that of petrol. Justice Jawwad Khawaja remarked that if the consumer had been charged more than what is fair, then such money will have to be returned. To this Chairman OGRA Saeed Khan replied that companies do not submit a request to determine gas prices. Justice Khawaja asked how OGRA could issue a notification to increase prices if this was the case and that OGRA's role should be to protect the consumer. Pointing to the OGRA Chairman, he said: "If you evaluates the situation yourself would reach the conclusion that the poor man is getting no benefit (out of this)." The Petroleum Secretary Waqar Masood informed the court that although it had been decided that the CNG prices would be determined on a half-yearly basis, the government (on the contrary) linked CNG prices with that of petrol.