As temperatures drop, so does pressure

MPA submits resolution in Punjab Assembly against acute shortage in the city

LAHORE: Citizens have faced low gas pressure in various parts of the city since the mercury fell on Tuesday.

The commercial and domestic consumers of the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Company Limited (SNGPL), especially in the congested neighbourhoods of the metropolis, complained of an acute natural gas shortage in their areas.

Umama Khan told The Express Tribune that there was hardly any gas available in the narrow and congested streets of sector A2 in Township.

Residents were compelled to use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or firewood for cooking and heating water. While gas was available at low pressure during some points of the day, the commodity was nonexistent in the morning and burners could not be made functional, she added.



Another citizen from Ichra Bazaar, Muhammad Usman, said residents of his area had registered several complaints with SNGPL about low gas pressure and even protested on Main Ferozepur Road. However, all their pleas and complaints fell on deaf ears.

“Several households in my area are not in a position to afford LPG, but the gas utility company is not paying any attention.”

Similarly, Kashif Saleem of Allama Iqbal Town said the winter season was yet to set in, but citizens had already started to experience low gas pressure in most areas of the city.

“A huge amount has been spent on the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and import of the commodity, but it is a pity people are still facing low pressure,” he said. He added since the winter season is touching its peak, LPG companies have also started to increase gas prices, which is another concern for citizens who have shifted to this alternate fuel.

Several residents of Samanabad, Cavalry Ground, Green Town, Wapda Town, Gulberg and Johar Town also complained of low pressure and natural gas shortage in their areas. In some localities, people have installed used compressors on gas pipelines to increase pressure, which was not only illegal but could also cause fatal accidents. Nearly half of the CNG stations in South Punjab have already been closed due to low gas pressure, while the rest of them were running on low gas pressure.



SNGPL officials, on the other hand, claimed that there may be low pressure in some areas, but the situation was generally under control. “In some congested areas, there may be a local pipeline issue otherwise supply is normal in most areas,” said a company official.

He said domestic consumers were on the priority list of the company. “If the company feels that the pressure is getting low, it will suspend natural gas supply to other sectors, like commercial and CNG, to fulfil domestic requirements.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member Punjab Assembly Shoaib Siddiqui submitted a resolution in the provincial against the acute gas shortage in the city. In his resolution, he highlighted that both domestic and commercial consumers were facing great hardships and had been compelled to buy expensive kerosene oil, LPG and firewood for cooking.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2017.