Winter woes: Sialkot women protest against gas supply cuts

Hometown of two federal ministers remains deprived of piped gas for over 16 hours

SIALKOT: Women in Sailjkot took the roads to protest against gas suipply cuts in severe winter.

Carrying pots and pans they marched through the streets demanding piped gas to cook meals. Sialkot, a major industrial city of Pakistan, is is hometown of Khawaja Asif, Minister for Defence, Water and Power and Zahid Hamid Minister for Climate Change.

Though Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited has announced to provide gas for household consumers from 06:00 am to 09:00 am in the morning and 06:00 pm to 09:00 pm in the evening, for cooking meals, there is no implementation on this.

The very low pressure of gas and hours-long daily supply cuts have affected the domestic lives of people who are braving cold and foggy weather. Having a warm cup of tea has become a luxury.

Even protests by women and children failed to move the government to bring respite in unending load shedding of gas. The protesting women were carrying kitchen utensils in their hands as they marched on various roads, chanting slogans against  the government. Later, the protesters dispersed peacefully.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2016.