PESHAWAR - Owing to diversion of main supply line to Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CNG stations faced severe gas shortage, which multiplied the miseries of the public as transporters charged them with double fares from one stop to another.
Several scuffles were witnessed between the transporters and commuters due to high fare. The commuters said that the fare list has been made for diesel vehicles not for CNG vehicles and whenever the prices of petroleum products go up, increase has also been made in the fares of CNG operated vehicles.
They added that bringing 100 per cent increase in the fare was totally injustice. This correspondent also observed several clashes in two buses, which were transporting commuters from Saddar to Khyber Bazaar.
Talking to The Nation, President of local transport association Khan Zaman said that due to closure of CNG stations, most vehicles were converted to diesel and petrol, which increased the fuel expense manifolds and forced the transporters to bring increase in the fare.  He mentioned that he had directed all drivers to make only fifty per cent increase in fares but some profiteers want to loot masses with both hands by charging them with 100 per cent increase. He admitted that certain people were overcharging the commuters
President of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CNG owners association Fazl Muqeem Khan said that the authorities have ensured that all CNG stations will re-open at 9:00pm Tuesday.  He said that the SNGPL has diverted supply line to Punjab aimed to avert major loss to 36-inch pipeline.
He apologised to the masses and said that there is no role of CNG owners association in the supply of gas but it was due to miscreants attack in Rahim Yar Khan, which has disrupted the supply of gas to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country.