Schools closure extended, gas supply curtailed

Schools to reopen on January 13 because of cold wave

LAHORE: The Punjab School Education Department (SED) on Monday directed all public and private schools to extend winter holidays up to January 12 in view of recent cold wave.

An official communiqué released on Monday was shared by the Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas on twitter.

The minister tweeted, “All Public & Private Schools of Punjab will reopen on Monday, January 13, 2020.”

Light rain in various cities of Punjab, including the provincial capital, had turned the weather cold forcing the provincial government to extend the school winter holidays for another week.

Spell of scattered showers beginning on Saturday continued up to yesterday in Lahore and other parts of Punjab.

Official denies rumours of extension in holidays

Meanwhile, the weather report issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) indicates a strong westerly wave affecting most of the upper and central parts of the country which is likely to persist in the upper parts till Wednesday.

The report highlighted that widespread rain was witnessed in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and some isolated areas of upper Sindh, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. Snowfall was also recorded in Malam Jabba, Kalam, Parachinar, Zhob and Bagrot on Monday.

A similar weather trend was forecasted for Tuesday, predicting rain and snow over the hilly areas in upper and central Punjab, Bahawalpur division, Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir and at the isolated places in the central and southern districts of Balochistan.

Met office recorded rainfall (mm) during last 24 hours in Punjab: Bahawalpur 12, Bahawalnagar, Faisalabad 16, Murree 15, Kasur, Jhang 14, Sahiwal 13, Khanewal 12, Lahore 10, Joharabad 8, Multan 7, Rahim Yar Khan 5, Narowal 5, Chakwal 4, Sialkot 4, Dera Ghazi Khan 3, and Khanpur 2.

Meanwhile, the current cold wave after the rain has made it impossible of the gas utility company to ensure uninterrupted supply to domestic and commercial consumers on Monday.

Citizens from various areas of the provincial capital have complained about non-availability of natural gas in their neighbourhoods.

Citizens also complained that if in some neighbourhoods the gas is being supplied but the gas utility company is failed to maintain a reasonable pressure.

“The pressure in Township, the area is so low that it is impossible to cook at home. We have to buy food from shops and use LPG for other domestic purposes,” said a housewife, Naheed Bibi.

Winter vacations extended for schools in Punjab

A tandoor owner Muhammad Buksh highlighted that with an increase in demand, dealers have jacked up LPG rates by Rs30-40 a kilogramme, following which it is being sold for Rs175-180 a kilogramme in different areas.

A spokesperson for the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) said around 2,200 to 2,300 MMCFD gas is available in the system, including 600 MMCFD LNG. The company has also started to industry, besides the CNG sector.

The company will supply gas to CNG pumps twice a week from 8:00am to 8:00pm on Tuesday and Friday. The company will review the gas supply schedule on a weekly basis after evaluating demand and supply data.

The SNGPL officials claim that there is no shortage of gas in the system. Consumers at the tail end are facing difficulty owing to illegal use of compressors and gas pumps in their neighbourhoods.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2020.