News
Gas shortage hits domestic users across country
ISLAMABAD: Gas crisis has worsened across the country, forcing domestic users to consume liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to cook food, heat water and keep their homes warm. In Karachi, people in many city areas, including Lyari, Kharadar, Saddar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Korangi and SITE, are receiving either no gas or complaining about low gas pressure. In Lahore, Samnabad, the Walled City, Gulshan-e-Ravi, Iqbal Town and many adjoining areas were facing acute shortage of gas. The situation was also getting worse in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi as gas pressure was low in most of the localities there. The areas with low or no gas pressure include Saddar, Haider Road, Kashmir Road, Bahu Mohala, Dannies College, Gawalmandi, Ganjmandi, City Saddar Road, several areas of Raja Bazaar, Committee Chowk, Teli Mohalla, Iqbal Road, Kohati Bazaar, Sadiqabad, Shakrial, Kuri Road and Ashraf Colony. The people of Balochistan, the main source of natural gas in the country, were also braving low gas pressure amid cold weather conditions. Life in Quetta was also turning into a nightmare, particularly for those with low income as they could not afford costly LPG. Residents said they had to buy LPG cylinders to meet their needs, although doing so was “not affordable”. They have urged the authorities concerned to take steps to regularise gas supply during the winter season. Talking to INP news agency, a number of citizens alleged that industrial units “are stealing gas despite a ban on gas supply for them but SNGPL officials are deliberately ignoring the ban due to political pressure”. They claimed that this was not only causing losses of millions of rupees to the government but also depriving the domestic consumers of the much needed fuel. They said that they were unable to cook food, heat water and use gas heaters. The people in many cities of Punjab said that they were not getting gas, although CNG stations were closed in the province. However, according to officials, the ongoing gas crisis is due to gap between demand and low supply.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk