ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that owing to prevailing shortage and dire need, the government may lift ban on setting up new CNG stations in Balochistan.

Speaking before the Senate on Calling Attention Notice, the minister said he may forward a summary to the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani suggesting lifting the ban on setting up new CNG stations in the province as the people face difficulties due to small number of stations in the province.

He admitted there are only four CNG stations in Balochistan province, adding that some others are in the pipeline which could not get operational due to non-fulfillment of departmental formalities.

He said provisional licenses have been issued to four parties but they failed to start work as they could not deposit amount for infrastructural development. Another two have yet to fulfill the formalities and four could not settle the issue of road-cutting with the local management.

The minister said the province can have another five CNG stations if the concerned parties get license from Sui Southern Gas Company.

He said the ministry had received 27 applications from different parties, adding that they might be allowed if they fulfill formalities in this regard.

The minister told the House that there are 1345 CNG stations in Punjab, 60 in Islamabad, 360 in Sindh, 353 in NWFP, and four in Balochistan.

In total, the ministry has received 3,000 applications for setting up new CNG stations from across the country, but the caretaker government had imposed ban due to non-availability of gas.

Regarding higher rates in Balochistan, the minister said it depends on the distance from point, the density of population and location. (APP)

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