Routine life remained paralyzed on Monday due to countrywide protests and strikes of CNG stations owners and transport associations against price hike of gas and petroleum products.
Besides closure of CNG stations and public transport across the country, violent protest demonstrations were held in big cities of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh.
Thousands of protestors including owners and employees of CNG stations, transporters, drivers and common citizens marched through the cities to record their protests against the government decision of increase in prices of gas and petroleum products.
The protesters were holding banners, placards and clubs and their hands and they chanted slogans against the federal government, minister for petroleum and natural resources, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and Sui Northern Gas Company Limited (SNGCL).
The enraged protestors blocked the highways and GT Roads for all kinds of traffic by burning tyres and placing big logs and stones to stop the flow of traffic.
On the other hand public transport remained absent creating difficulties for students, public and private servants and minimum presence of employees was witnessed in offices as people failed to reach the destination.
Meanwhile, taxi owners and rickshaw drivers took full advantage of the situation and overcharged the commuters and they had to pay 200 percent additional fairs against the routine to reach the destinations.
In many cities including Barakahu area of the federal capital, angry protestors pelted stones at vehicles smashing the wind screens and commercial hoardings installed with roadside or at the top of some buildings.
More than 600 CNG stations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been closed for indefinite period. Long queues are being witnessed at filling stations.
People and transporters protested against the closure of CNG and blocked the GT Road. Fares of local transport have also been increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
People of Faisalabad are also protesting against gas loadshedding for consecutive eight days to industries and for six days to CNG stations. Labourers and citizens staged a protest at Sidhar bypass on Jhang Road and blocked the traffic.
Labourers also organized protest rallies against gas stoppage in Small Industrial State and Khurarianwala and chanted slogans against gas closure.
The protesters also protested on Sargodha Road and GTS Chowk. The rickshaw drivers blocked the traffic by standing rickshaws on the road.