KHANEWAL, July 22: CNG stations across the district are overcharging consumers without any fear of action from the district administration.

It has been learnt that all CNG stations in the district are overcharging consumers by Rs3.60 or more per kilogramme as they are selling gas at the rate of Rs47.28 per kilogramme instead of the government rate of Rs43.68 per kilogramme.

People at some CNG stations told Dawn that those owning these filling stations were blatantly overcharging consumers. “We have been left at the mercy of these looters and there is no one to listen to us,” said a consumer who was waiting for his turn at a CNG station in Khanewal city.

Shahzad Khattak, who owns a CNG outlet and is also secretary general of district CNG association, said the government had left it to the All Pakistan CNG Association to set gas prices. He said the association set CNG price at Rs47.25 “in line with government instructions”.

Executive District Officer for Community Development Chaudhry Maqsood Ahmad was unaware of the overcharging by CNG stations. He said his department was not authorised to check fuel stations.

District Coordination Officer Qazi Muhammad Ashfaq said he would look into the matter on a priority basis. “I have called an urgent meeting of all CNG outlet owners to discus the price issue. I will not spare any violator.”