Acute gas shortage hits city

Gas supply to CNG stations remains suspended across Punjab

LAHORE:

As the mercury level dropped, complaints of gas shortage are on the rise in the provincial capital and other parts of Punjab.

The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) has already suspended gas supply to compressed natural gas (CNG) stations across Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Speaking to The Express Tribune on Tuesday, various citizens complained about low gas pressure or no gas at all in China Scheme, Township, Green Town, Johar Town and other congested areas.

Residents of Ghoray Shah also stage protest against the non-availability of gas supply and chanted slogans against the gas utility company.

A resident of Arrian Chowk, Township, Muhammad Waseem, said there was no gas in their area for cooking for the past two weeks.

“We have complained to the gas utility company several times but no solution of our problem has been found yet. The government has increased rates of all utilities but it still fails to ensure supply of these necessities,” he added.

A housewife, Maryam Sheikh, said citizens are being forced to buy expensive liquified petroleum gas (LPG) or use wood for cooking and other purposes. It has become very difficult for housewives to prepare breakfast in the morning.

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“We have to give children snacks or buy outside food for lunch since there was no gas in stoves. The government has failed in controlling inflation but it should pay a little attention towards these necessities as this is hitting hard to common citizens,” she maintained.

Another citizen, Amir Hussain, highlighted that the massive use of gas compressors have further aggravated this problem for domestic consumers on the tail-end.

Using machines to pull gas from pipelines is common which ultimately results in acute gas shortage.

Despite the suspension of supply consumers are getting hefty bills.

An SNGPL spokesman said domestic consumers are the priority of the gas utility company as per policy.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2021.