Minister accuses federal govt of cutting gas supply to K-P

Warns of protest at SNGPL offices if situation does not improve

ABBOTABAD: Adviser to the K-P CM for Information and Higher Education Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani on Sunday accused the federal government of reducing the daily gas supply to K-P, especially Hazara division.

He issued a caveat that if the situation did not improve, his party workers would stage a protest and surround the offices of Sui Northern Gas  Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).

Pointing out the prevailing situation of loadshedding of gas in Hazara division he said it not only affected commercial consumers but domestic households were the  worst affected.

He said that even though K-P held a major share of the national gas reserves, the federal government was punishing the people of K-P and especially Hazara division.

He lamented that with the onset of cold weather when the demand for gas increases for domestic use the federal government had reduced the quantum of supply to Hazara and other parts of K-P

He explained that for several hours a day, domestic consumers face complete suspension of gas supply, while in other areas low pressure makes it virtually impossible to cook or heat food.

He added that the daily requirement of both commercial and domestic consumers in Hazara was not more than 400 pounds but the federal government had reduced it to only 80 pounds, making things difficult for everyone.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2017.