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Are Courts The Proper Venue Where The Price of CNG Should Be Fixed
Are Courts The Proper Venue Where The Price of CNG Should Be Fixed
Are Courts The Proper Venue Where The Price of CNG Should Be Fixed
Ispentafewhourswithamechanicgettingthecarrepaired.Itoldhimthateverythingwasabsolutely finetillIgottheCNGfilledlastnightthegeneratorwarninglightcamejustwhenIwasabouttoparkit forovernight.Williamsisagoodautoelectricianinourvicinity.IammorecomfortablewithChristians;I neverfeltcheatedgettingtheworkdonebyWilliams. CNGisgenerallythehottopicthesedaysinourcountry,hesaid,looksirhowbadthesituationhas becomeeveryoneisdisturbedduetoCNG.Isaid,YaritwasbasicallyawrongstepprovidingCNGfor thetransport.Itwasabribetotheurbanmiddleclassby#MusharraftoprolonghisillegalruleI continued.HewascuriousandIadded,CNGisbasicrawmaterialtofertilizerandmanyother industries,itshouldnothavebeenofferedtopeoplefortransportinthefirstplace. Hecontinuedworkingonthecarremovingdifferentpartstoreachthealternatorthatislocatedbelow almosteverythingelse.RemovingVbeltshesaidatleastthepriceswerewithinreachofthepoor people,lookwhatthisgovernmenthasdoneinthissector.Ireplied,Comeonthepriceandgoodsor serviceisanagreementbetweenthebuyerandseller.Inthemeantimehehadsuccessfullydismantled thegenerator.Hetookittohisworkbenchinthebackoftheshop.Achairwasmadeavailableforme tositandwaitwhilehedismantledthealternatortoseewhatiswrongwithit.Withinnotimehecame outwiththerectifiercontrollerthatmaintainsthechargedlevelofthebatteryandtoldmethetotal priceofRs.1500thatincludedRs.400forrepairingandservicing.Irequestedhimtobuckupandfinish thejobassoonaspossible. DefenceTradersistheshopwhereWilliamsworks,Irelyonthemandamaregularvisitortotheshop forthelast17years.IwasofferedteaandIrefusedthemwiththanks.Iwaitedonthechairfornext20 minuteswhileheworkedonthepartandcameoutwiththerepairedandoverhauledgeneratorofthe
car.Wetogetherwenttothecarthatwasparkedonthesidelaneoftheshop,andhestartedputting everythingbacktogether. Herecalledourdiscussionwhereitwasterminatedlastanditwasaboutthepricesandpromptedmeto speakmoreonthat.WilliamswasayoungboywhenIfirstwenttogethisservicesformyoldDodge Dart170cubicinchessedan,heislikeafriendtomeandhereciprocatesinasimilarmanner.Irecalled wherethethreadofdiscussionwasbrokenandexplainedtohim,thatRs1500thathewascharging accordingtomeisexorbitantandshouldbeless,IfIcomebacktoyoufortherepairmeansthatevery othermechanicwillchargemethesameormorehencethatisthedeterminedpriceandeveryonewho wantstherepairofthesimilargeneratorshouldpayRs1500.Whereisthegovernmentherein betweenusyouaredemandingandIamboundtopay,Icontinued.Hefoundhimselfspeechlessfor sometimeandcontinuedwiththeworkwithoutsayinganymore. Afterfixingeverythingandtoppingupoftheelectrolyteofthebatteryandwashingitcleanheaskedme tostartthecarputthelightsandACon.Ididandeverythingwasperfectasusual.Sir,whateveryou saythepoorhasbenefittedbythepriceoftheCNGcomingdownbytheinterventionoftheChief Justice.EarlierIhadexplainedtohimhowtheinvestmenthadflownoutbecauseoftheinterventionof theSupremeCourt,andthatitisnotfortheSupremeCourttofixtheprices.Iaskedhimwhohas benefittedbythelesserCNGprice,andhisreplywaseveryoneyoucanseeforyourself. AbuswaspassingontheKorangiRoadandwasfullofpassengersontherooftopIpointedoutatthe busandaskedWilliamtohavealookatthebus.Hasanybenefitcometothesepoorpeopleandare thefaresofthebusreducedorchargingthesamerates?wasmyquestiontohim.HeadmittedthatI wasright.BeforeleavingIexplainedtohimthataccordingtothephilosophyIbelievein,anyonewho hasthecapacitytofixthepriceisanexploiterandinthiscaseRickshawdriver,thebusowner,andthe middleclassthatshouldnotusethecararethebeneficiaries.HelaughedRickshawdriver!Isaidyes hisworthismorethanfivelackrupeesandhechargesRs.120foroneKilometerthatshouldnotbe morethan30rupeesatthemost,thatincludes200percentprofit.