New fuel stations to be constructed on Kashmir highway despite the ban

Despite a ban imposed by the Cabinet Division on building new fuel stations along the Kashmir Highway, the city management has allowed the construction of fuel stations in the federal capital. The decision was passed by the city
management before the newly-appointed CDA Chairman, Farkhanda Iqbal, assumed the charge of her designation.

The Cabinet Division had restricted the construction of new compressed natural gas (CNG) stations on the highway, with the view of widening the road in the next budgeted year. However, the civic agency had sought permission from
the Cabinet Division for establishing new fuel stations alongside the Kashmir highway, surpassing the imposed ban.

In a letter sent to the Cabinet Division, the civic agency said: “The CDA board had requested the cabinet for lifting the ban because of the fact that the volume of traffic on Kashmir Highway/motorway link road has increased manifolds
and there is a great need for more petrol pumps and CNG stations to facilitate the public.”

A large number of citizens are concerned about establishing new fuel stations on the highway as this decision might hinder the process of widening the road. The federal government has already committed to provide Rs. 300 million
for this project of widening the Kashmir Highway in the budget 2010-11.

The Cabinet Division was detriment on the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s decision of not allowing the building of CNG stations on the Kashmir Highway but the CDA officials claimed that they desire to construct only petrol
pumps on the road.

“The decision of the prime minister denied permission to open new CNG stations but the provision of petrol pumps on Kashmir Highway/motorway link road has not been stopped,” the CDA maintained in its letter.

The secretary Cabinet Division eventually granted the permission to CDA after making it clear that the country is already facing severe shortage of energy, particularly natural gas and establishing CNG stations at this moment will
certainly not go in the public interest. He further mentioned that this proposal can only be accepted if the gas shortage problems smooth out in the coming future. 

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Posted by Farhan Hameed on Dec 26 2011. Filed under Business, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry