The Sindh Petroleum and CNG Dealers Association on Monday demanded of the provincial government to allow filling stations across the province to stay open round the clock. A spokesperson for the association told a press conference that the sector is reeling from the financial crisis because of the provincial government’s decision to allow petrol pumps and CNG stations to remain open for limited hours. Besides, the spokesperson demanded that the Sindh government charge five per cent sales tax on CNG and that the price of compressed natural gas should be 30-40 per cent lower than that of petrol. Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court ordered the opening of shopping malls across the country. Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed, the apex court bench declared the government’s decision to keep the businesses closed on Saturdays and Sundays void. The bench was seized with the hearing of the coronavirus suomoto notice case. The chief justice questioned “rationale” behind closing the markets on weekends.
