The Conference and exhibition elicited response from more than 25 experts from various countries & Pakistan, 35 CNG related Companies and 150 participants are participating in the conference and exhibition.

Leading names like Pakistan State Oil, Axiom Engineering, Greaves Pakistan, Khattak Sons, Hinopak Motors, Rastgar Engineering and others participated in the CNG CONEX 2006.

The objective of the conference was to promote CNG as an alternative and environment friendly fuel in the country and promotion of CNG conversion of heavy vehicles especially urban transport to protect the environment.

Naib City Nazim, Nasreen Jalil who was also the Chief guest at the inaugural session of the Conference said that it was the need of the time that we should start converting urban transport to CNG in order protect environment, and the City District Government Karachi, (CDGK) is making all out efforts in this regard.

She said that in order to protect the environment, two strokes rickshaws were banned and no new registration of two strokes rickshaws was carried out and only four stroke and CNG rickshaws were being registered and all old two stroke vehicle should be converted to four stroke engines by the next year. In this regard CDGK would provide financial assistance to the owners. She also said that at the moment 136 CNG stations are operating in the city but the number would be doubled in next three years according to need.

She lauded the efforts of the NFEH for organizing the event of this scale and said that this will provide vital information to develop this industry and would also be helpful in understanding the latest technology of CNG in the world.

Earlier, Guest of Honour, additional Federal Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Shaukat Durrani said that from the suggestions of the last CNG Conference the government was able to understand and make right decisions in order to develop this industry and this Conference it would again help in understanding the on going developments like the latest technology in this field, and would get a chance to interact with the stake holder of this industry.

He informed as there was a very long and tiring process for attaining NOC for establishing new CNG stations, a meeting in this regard with President CSOAP, Malik Khuda Buksh and Sami Khan, Chairman CNG Dealers Association would be held so that the process could be eased.

In his welcome address President CNG Stations Owners Association of Pakistan (CSOAP), Malik Khuda Buksh said that this Conference aimed to provide the latest information of CNG technology and safety standards. He also said that this conference would also help in communicating with the government officials about the problems faced by the CNG industry. He was of the view that CNG nowadays is booming, and heavy investment local as well as foreign, is pouring in but in order to maintain this pace CNG stations owners have to develop their facilities according to the need of the time. Giving details he said that around 47 CNG stations gave applications for up-gradation of their stations out of which 13 have already been approved and the rest were in undergoing the process of approval.

Malik Khuda Buksh applauded the role of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) and said that in SSGC is cooperating to up grade CNG stations in the region.

President National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH), Naeem Qureshi said that it is high time that we should started thinking for the betterment of the environment and this conference would work as a milestone in this regard.

He further said that the Conference would discuss the emerging trends, production and processing tools, business opportunities and challenges ahead in the next five years by taking advantage of the “best practices” presented by local and international experts from CNG-NGV industries.

In the technical session of the conference Riaz Rashid, Senior Manager, Engineering Development Board (EDB), Government of Pakistan; Amir Hassan, Chief Executive, Tesla Pakistan; Director Advance Technologies, Shahab Raja and Masroor H. Khan, Manager Cluster Network Planning, Shell Pakistan gave a detailed presentation on different aspects of the industry.

Director General, Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan Hilal Raza informed the addressing at the concluding session that over Rs.15 billion have so far been invested in CNG sector with establishment of 1060 Gas Stations in more than 76 cities and towns of the country while the number of vehicles converted to CNG has surpassed over one million.

Hilal Raza told that federal government has approved a policy under which CNG buses would be introduced in eight big cities of country by the end of 2007. These cities include Lahore, Islamabad, Hyderabad, Faisalabad. The government would extend interest free loans for the purchase of buses and mini buses.

He said the provincial governments have been asked to take steps for setting up big CNG stations. "The local companies would also be encouraged for manufacturing CNG products besides transfer technology projects would be launched with assistance of foreign companies. A company from Italy would soon install a plant here," he said.

He vowed to ensure strict enforcement of the laws regarding use of CNG stations and cylinders, as nine fatal incidents had taken place during the last six years of which five alone in 2005. The number of accidents owing to substandard cylinders was 17, he added

Hilal Raza told further that four local companies have started manufacture and marketing of CNG kits while the Hinopak motors have started manufacturing CNG buses locally.

Earlier, important presentations were made by local and foreign participants of the Conference who presented the latest CNG technologies available and which are now being brought into Pakistan to meet the rapidly growing demand for CNG.

Cognizant of this demand, Executive Director PSO Kalim Siddiqui informed those present that PSO is working extensively for the promotion of CNG culture and has more than 50% CNG Stations out of total CNG Stations throughout Pakistan. He told that 12000 to 15000 vehicles were being converted to CNG every month in the country.

Asma Khan Manager Product Development of HinoPak gave details of the contribution of the company in providing the city with dedicated CNG 'green' buses and the expansion plans for the future.

The low price differential between diesel and CNG was also highlighted by speakers as well as members of the audience and this was cited as one of the key reasons for the lack of interest in conversion of urban transport vehicles from diesel to CHG. The other major reason being the absence of large refueling stations, for which it was recommended that the government should allocate land at convenient locations, and inlet pressure of gas be
provided on priority basis and that too at more than 60 PSI.

In the speech given by Mujahid Anwar Sr. General Manager SNGPL he had highlighted the plans for launching of mother daughter stations and support to the Industry in providing better composition gas for CNG. In the presentation given by Shoaib Warsi of SSGC he had highlighted the future plans for enhancing Gas Inlet pressure to the stations and discussed current and future gas distribution network.

A presentation was given by Mr. Mohammed Ather EDO Transport CDGK regarding the poor quality fuel used in our transport system which is a cause for damage to the environment and health. He added that sulphur contents present in diesel is harmful for health whereas CNG is harmless. He supported the earlier announcement from CDGK for induction of CNG buses in the next five years.

The conference concluded with a general consensus that the CNG industry, the government and regulatory bodies, as well as the consumers have to work together for the promotion of a safe CNG climate in the country. Earlier Peter Crowe expert from UK Dr. Gerhard Koenig from Austria, Colin Fountain Richard Castle from UK, Alessandro Varisco from Italy Riaz Rashid Manager Engineering Development Board, Amir Hussain, Shehzad Manzoor, Naeem Qureshi, Malik Khuda Baksh and other also spoke on the occasion.

In the exhibition was participated in by Axiom Engineering,Greaves Paksiatn,Paksitan state oil, Tesla Technologies, Khattak sons, Morgan Technologies, Hino Pak Motors, Afzal Motors, Pak Suzuki, Allied Engineering, Global Pakistan & other companies, who displayed their CNG products.