KARACHl: All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) and the Karachi Transport Ittehad called off their strike after around eight hours on Saturday when they received assurance from the government that loadshedding in Sindh would now be scheduled in consultation with the APCNGA.

A statement issued by the association said: `After intervention of the federal government and its taking the APCNGA central chairman Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha into confidence by telling him that loadshedding schedule will be planned in consultation with the association, we have unanimously decided to call off the strike. Now this issue will be discussed with the ministry on Monday.

Because of the strike, there were few vehicles on roads while most CNG stations remained closed.

The association in collaboration with the Karachi Transport Ittehad had also given an indefinite strike call on last Sunday, but then called it off when the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) agreed to close CNG stations in Sindh for two days only.

However, the SSGC closed the stations for 48 hours from Thursday to Saturday citing shortage of gas during winter as a reason.

Infuriated by this, the APCNGA called an indefinite strike from Saturday morning while many vehicles queued up outside CNG stations since late Friday night. They found out about the strike only in the morning. However some were provided CNG as they were lucky enough to be at the pumps that didn`t side with the APCNGA.

New schedule for CNG closure The SSGC announced that all CNG stations in Sindh will remain closed from 8am on Monday till 8am on Tuesday for 24 hours, according to a press release.