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ArecourtsthepropervenuewherethePriceof CNGshouldbefixed?

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.

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