The Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Association announced a temporary suspension of gas supply to vehicles across the Hazara Division and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following successful negotiations with Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and provincial government representatives. This move is part of a gas load-management strategy to optimize resource allocation.
Khalid Latif, a central executive member and president of the CNG Owners Association in Hazara, shared the decision with reporters, confirming that CNG stations across the province would remain closed until Monday. “Operations will resume Monday night and continue nightly from 5 PM to 8 AM starting Tuesday,” Latif explained.
The decision to suspend operations was made after discussions with SNGPL’s Senior General Manager, Taj Wali, and Hazara Division Commissioner, Zaheerul Islam. The association also met with its divisions in Peshawar, Mardan, Karak, and Abbottabad to finalize the closure plan.
Latif emphasized that the suspension would help manage the gas supply better and ensure fair distribution. He highlighted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produces 421 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day, while its total consumption is 220 million standard cubic feet per day. The surplus is primarily distributed to Punjab, a practice that has drawn criticism under Article 158 of the Constitution, which prioritizes meeting a province’s gas needs before redistributing excess supply to other regions.
He also pointed out that the Peshawar High Court had previously issued a status quo, instructing the federal government not to disrupt gas supply to CNG stations in the province. “If CNG stations remain closed for prolonged periods, it could severely damage the industry, similar to what has happened in Punjab,” warned Latif.
