Demonstration held in Balochistan against low gas pressure

Citizens say they are forced to pay gas bills and price of gas cylinder

QUETTA: Facing low gas pressure in the majority of neighborhoods of the provincial capital, dozens of citizens including women staged protest outside SSGC office on Monday demanding full-pressure gas in freezing temperature.

Female residents of Hazara Town staged a rally outside the regional office of Sui Southern Gas Company to register their protest against low gas pressure in harsh winter conditions.

The protesters carrying their paid bills shouted full-throttled slogans against SSGC, saying that despite our persistent complaints the gas company didn’t pay serious attention toward the gas pressure issue in Hazara Town.

“Despite knowing about the perils of a gas cylinder used at homes, we are compelled to use them nonetheless because we can’t warm our rooms with low gas pressure and are unable to cook,” Fatima Iqbal, resident of Hazara Town, said.

She added that “we are forced to pay monthly gas bills as well as bear the extra burden of gas cylinders.”

In a separate protest against low gas pressure and speedy gas meters in Quetta’s Sirki Road and Gawalmandi the dozens of citizens including children staged a protest against SSGC officials alleging the gas company installed fast meters and was receiving thousands of rupees from residential consumers.

“How come a poor citizen pay Rs40,000 monthly against gas dues. The company has installed speeding meters in residential areas which are adding to the public woes,” Noorud Din Kakar, a UC Nazim leading the protesters, said.

He added the SSGC officials through a signed document assured full pressure in our neighborhood back in 2015 but in three years they didn’t even replace the old pipelines.