The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has lifted the ban on issuance of new licenses for CNG stations after a period of 12 years.

According to the details, the condition, however, implies for only those running on re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG).

The regulatory authority, while inviting applicants; warned that they would have to take an undertaking to not seek natural gas supply.

The ban on issuance of new licenses had been imposed in 2008 but in October last year, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) directed the OGRA to issue RLNG-based licenses to new CNG stations. It asked the regulator that the new CNG stations would not seek indigenous gas.

It is pertinent to mention here that CNG Stations across the Sindh province opened Sunday (today) after a six day closure.

All Pakistan CNG Sindh Zone Leader Sameer Najmal Hussain said that the closure of all CNG stations in Sindh was extended from 5 days to 6 days.

It may be recalled that the President Arif Alvi had assured the industrialists he will take up the growing gas crisis in the city with “the relevant ministries”.

In a meeting with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Shariq Vohra at Governor House, Alvi had said that he will update the business community “within a couple of days regarding exact causes of gas shortages and strategies that are being devised to deal with the situation”, the KCCI press release said.