PESHAWAR
The senior leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chapter has demanded that the provincial government immediately issue an executive order for the restoration of the CNG sector, which has reportedly remained closed for the past two months, and release funds to ensure payment of salaries to staff at the University of Peshawar.
Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Wednesday, JI provincial ameer Abdul Wasi, General Secretary Sabir Hussain Awan and District Ameer Bahrullah Khan Advocate said the prolonged closure of more than 600 CNG stations had caused severe economic hardship across the province.
They said that, on the one hand, the closure was depriving citizens of affordable fuel, while on the other it was causing losses to the national exchequer and rendering thousands of workers associated with the CNG sector unemployed.
The leaders claimed that around 500,000 vehicles, including taxis, rickshaws, buses and coaches, depended on CNG, affecting the livelihoods of millions of people linked directly and indirectly to the sector.
They said that despite repeated assurances by the government regarding restoration of CNG supply, no clear timeline had been provided. They maintained that KP produces around 550 MMCFD of natural gas, while its local consumption requirements were significantly lower, arguing that the province was being deprived of its due share.
Referring to constitutional provisions, they said Article 158 of the Constitution granted priority use of natural resources to the producing province, adding that the continued closure of CNG stations despite court decisions was unjustified.
The leaders warned that if CNG supply was not restored within three days, the party would launch a protest movement across the province. They added that a full-scale protest campaign would be initiated after May 1 if the situation persisted.
They also expressed concern over the financial crisis at the University of Peshawar, saying that teaching and non-teaching staff had not received full salaries, leading to a strike situation. They urged the government to immediately release funds to educational institutions to prevent further disruption.
The leaders criticised the provincial government, saying that public issues were being ignored, and stressed that practical steps were needed to address both the energy crisis and the challenges facing the education sector.
