Crippling crisis: Running out of gas

The annual gas crisis in the country makes many in the country wish that winters are either minimal or non-existent because having hot food, taking a warm shower, or keeping oneself cozy become luxuries.

While some can comfortably switch to alternatives like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, wood, or coal, in the colder months, for the average person these are out of reach due to retailers jacking up prices.

For instance, in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the price of wood used as fuel has gone up to Rs 1,400 per kilogram (kg) and the price of coal has gone up to Rs 160 per kg. Whereas a small gas cylinder retails for Rs 900, a medium one for Rs 1,700, and a large one will cost consumers Rs 3,000.

The same prices are being charged in the raging metropolis that is Karachi, as well. Shahnaz Akhtar, a resident of the Liaquatabad area, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that since there was either no gas or incredibly low pressure between 7 to 9 in the morning, 1 to 3 in the afternoon and 8 to 11 at night cooking food had become a nightmare. “I bought a LPG cylinder for Rs 3,000 just so I could make food on time,” she lamented.

Similarly, Nadeem Islam, a resident of the Orangi Town area, complained that since gas was missing his monthly household budget had blown out of proportion. “I have to buy breakfast and dinner from restaurants which cost me an additional Rs 500 to 600 per day just because we do not have any gas,” an irate Islam said.

Currently, not being able to make breakfast seems to be a national problem. Khalid Khan, a rickshaw driver, and resident of Peshawar told The Express Tribune that he had to send his two children to school without breakfast because there was no gas during school timings. “I am being compelled to arrange an LPG gas cylinder, but the price point is beyond my range,” a visibly frustrated Khan said.

Read Gas shortfall giving rise to sale of faulty cylinders

Some 514 kilometers away from Peshawar, Naila, a resident of the Garhi Shahu area of Lahore, expressed her anger at having to wait for hours just to be able to make food. “It is not even that cold yet and the gas cut-off has already started, cooking a meal for the adults and children at my house has become impossible,” she said.

Despite the gas-shortage or low pressures the bills have remained high. Shafiq Qureshi, who works at a bread making oven in Rawalpindi, colloquially known as a naan center, informed that even though gas was not available his normal monthly bill of Rs 15,000 was now between Rs 25,000 to 30,000. A despondent Qureshi remarked that even the protest against low gas pressure had no effect on anyone.

Considering the situation, some in the federal capital’s twin Rawalpindi, have taken matters into their own hands. The sale of gas pressure regulating machines, a gas generator of sorts which regulates gas pressure at the expense of other households, have gone up. The Express Tribune learned a Pakistani-made motor retails for Rs 3,000 to 4,000 while a Chinese-made one sells for anywhere between Rs 5,000 to 7,000.

Zafarullah, a resident of Rawalpindi, who complained about one of these devices as the reason for the low gas pressure at his house to the gas control room, said, “i was told that the issue would be fixed in 48 hours, but it has been 10 days now and I am still deprived of gas.”

Read more Acute gas shortage hits city

Tired of protesting and complaining, Shehzad, a resident of the China Scheme area in Lahore, who made the switch from gas to electricity, informed that even this switch was not a solution. “The use of electric heaters and stove has made my electric bill go through the roof due to the high cost of electricity,” he said.

With the temperature expected to drop further, Lahore’s residents' problems might not be over anytime soon. A Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) spokesperson, informed The Express Tribune that they estimated that demand for gas, which was already at 700 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd), would reach 1,200 to 1,300 mmcfd as the cold snap intensified.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where like Punjab, the SNGPL has curtailed gas supply to compressed natural gas (CNG) stations to prioritise domestic consumers in the winter, it has replaced 78 km of pipeline to ensure a smooth supply of gas, as per General Manager SNGPL, Taj Ali Khan. “We spent Rs 12.9 million this year replacing old pipelines in Peshawar and hopefully this will fix the issue,” he added.

As far as the gas generators are concerned, Sui Southern Gas Company spokesman Salman Siddiqui told the Express Tribune, that numerous complaints had been received and the department was taking action. “These devices obstruct the flow of gas in Karachi and are illegal to install,” Siddiqui told The Express Tribune.