Call to Expedite Operation of CNG Buses in Mega Cities

ISLAMABAD (September 12 2008): Minister for Environment, Hamidullah Jan Afridi on Thursday directed the concerned ministries and departments to expedite the operation of CNG buses in mega cities.

Afridi who is also Chairman of the Steering Committee on CNG buses, directed all concerned to start the project at the earliest to the benefit of people through Prime Minister's cheaper transport program."Provision of cheaper and environment friendly CNG buses to masses is part of the program approved by the Prime Minister of Pakistan," he said, and reminded the stakeholders for speedy implementation. He was presiding over the 2nd meeting of the Steering Committee on Prime Minister Programme for CNG buses.

Minister for Environment directed the Ministry of Finance to take banks on board to ensure timely loaning facility to the private operators throughout the country for this purpose. The minister also directed the concerned quarters to seek the co-operation of the private sector for high pressure CNG filling stations in the cities where CNG buses would operate.

He directed that Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) should establish high pressure CNG stations as a pilot project in these cities. The minister said that a uniform policy would be adopted for establishing the project management units for the operation of these buses in the all four provinces.

The minister asked the provinces to submit their demand for buses to operate in the specified cities and the committee will decide about the number of buses to be operated in particular cities.Joint Secretary (Development) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Tahmoor Azmat Usman informed the Steering Committee that the matter of provision of CNG to the private operators in nine mega cities was taken up with the SNGPL and SSGCL who have shown willingness to ensure availability of CNG for the buses project.

The meeting was attended by Khusnood Akhtar Lashari, Secretary Ministry of Environment, MD ENERCON, Transport Minister of Sindh, Secretaries Transport of the provinces, representatives of the relevant ministries and operators of CNG buses.