'Low to none': Gas pressure drop irks Karachi consumers

Utility's shortage termed contrary to govt's plans of prioritising domestic consumers

KARACHI:

Gas consumers in different parts of Karachi have been facing immense difficulty due to the shortage of the utility, days after the government promised it would ensure uninterrupted supply to the domestic sector.

According to Express News, the shortage has forced citizens to turn to Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) which added to the worry of the people already perturbed by poverty.

The dwellers of Lyari, Old City area, Kharadar and Nazimabad are troubled by low gas pressure, while it seemed to have disappeared in Saddar, Garden, Kemari, Mehmoodabad and Manzoor Colony.

The low pressure was also reported from Shah Faisal Colony, Korangi, Malir, Orangi, Baldia and Metroville hindering everyday chores of the residents.

Interestingly, consumers facing the trouble reported regular operation at the CNG stations in their areas.

Also read: Plan to supply gas thrice a day rolled back

According to the government's gas load management policy, priority is to be given to domestic consumers.

The consumers further said there was no prior information of the load-shedding, badly hampering their activities.

The residents urged authorities to stop the load-shedding, adding that they have to pay Rs250 to Rs500 on account of each of the gas bills.

According to the consumers, using LPG as an alternative has increased their gas expenses 10-fold as the per kilo price of the utility has spiked to over Rs200.

This, according to them, has made it difficult to face the rising inflation in the country.

On the other hand, spokesperson of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Salman Ahmed Siddiqui, said the demand for the utility has suddenly increased due to the operation of thousands of geysers in the franchise areas of Sindh and Balochistan.

Extreme cold in Balochistan has led to the rise in the demand for gas, Ahmed said, adding, "The SSGC is trying to meet this demand and prioritise provision to domestic and commercial consumers, as per its available resources."

Also read: Two months gas suspension to CNG stations, other sectors approved

In this regard, the spokesperson further said, the SSGC had to shut supply to CNG and industrial sectors on Sunday, and admitted shortage in some areas especially those located at the far end of the company's distribution lines.

On November 18, Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) turned down a plan to provide gas to domestic consumers three times a day.

During its last meeting, the cabinet body had discussed a proposal of providing gas three times a day to households for cooking.

The participants of the meeting, chaired by Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, said they had only stressed the need for providing gas to domestic consumers three times a day for cooking, and clarified they had never asked to stop gas supply for the remaining time of the day.