Rawalpindi faces low gas pressure
With winter a few weeks away, the gas pressure in the city has started to deplete. Because of the low gas pressure, the price of LPG has also gone up in the open market. It is now being sold at Rs230 per kilogramme.
Gulistan Colony, Dhok Chirag Din, Dhok Elahi Bakhsh, Rehmatabad, Arya Mohalla, Westridge 3, Pirwudhai, Dhok Kala Khan, Sadiqabad, Tench Bhata, People’s Colony, Gawalmandi, Adiala Road, Gulistan Colony are all facing a shortage.
The residents say the gas pressure decreases in the evening and early morning every day. A resident of Dhok Munshi, Noor Badshah, said that the gas goes in the morning and returns in the afternoon. In another area, a local, Qaiser Raju, said they receive low gas pressure from 6am to 9am, and from 9pm to midnight.
Because of this, women face extreme difficulties in making breakfast in the morning, and they have started bringing it from the market to avoid getting late. The locals said the shortage has taken a toll on business activities across the city.
Read Traders lambast gas supply suspension
Smog season
After the commencement of smog season in Punjab, the burning of crop residues, tyes, rubber, tubes, plastics and garbage have been banned under Section 144.
The government will register criminal cases against the violators. The chief secretary of Punjab has issued orders to the deputy commissioners (DCs) of all 36 districts to strictly enforce the ban for smog control.
Considering the orders, DCs have instructed respective administrations to expedite operations against all smoke-emitting vehicles, bakeries, factories, kilns, and stone crushing machines. Different departments have also been assigned different responsibilities.
The police, municipal bodies, transport authorities, environmental protection agency (EPA), civil defense department (CDD) will enforce anti-smog orders. CDD District Officer (DO) Talib Hussain said their teams have started action against the violators.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2021.