The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Tuesday issued a notification, raising the CNG prices in line with the new pricing formula approved by a sub-committee of Economic Coordination Council (ECC).

The price of CNG has been increased in Region-1 by Rs12.80 per kilogram to Rs74.44 per kg and Region-2 by Rs11.62 a kg to Rs65.78 a kg.However, the All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) rejected the new CNG pricing formula terming it illogical, illegal and against the interests of CNG sector.

The decision to raise the CNG prices was taken during a meeting of ECC's sub-committee headed by Law Minister Farooq H Naek.Earlier, talking to the media persons OGRA Chairman Saeed Khan said that new prices for Region one will be Rs74.44 rupees per kilogram and for Region-2‚ Rs65.78 kg.

OGRA had reduced CNG prices after the Supreme Court announced a short verdict on CNG and petrol price assessment case, directing the authority to devise a new pricing formula, keeping in view the consumers’ interests.

“As a first step, we will challenge the controversial decision in the Ministry of Petroleum and OGRA and later announce a schedule for a protest to get our demands fulfilled,” said Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Chairman Supreme Council APCNGA, in a statement.

He said that the latest CNG pricing decision is one-sided and irrational in which demand for uniform gas prices and taxation as well as right to just profit margin were not accommodated.

A cut in taxation would have helped the CNG sector and the masses which was unfortunately ignored while the hike in power tariff was not accommodated,