Low gas pressure hits twin cities

Domestic consumers forced to use cylinders and electric heaters

ISLAMABAD:

With the drop in temperature, residents of twin cities are facing low gas pressure which is causing difficulty for both domestic as well as commercial consumers.

The low or zero pressure especially during morning and evening time has compelled the residents of the twin cities to buy breakfast, lunch, and dinner from markets which is not only expensive and affects their monthly budget but is a very unhealthy option for families. Similarly, commercial users especially restaurants, hotels, and tandoor owners are also facing the same issue and are using substitute options to run their businesses.

They have also increased the prices of food items saying that they can’t manage the gas expense if they continue to sell items at routine prices.

Therefore, they have no other option but to increase the prices, and that burden is also transferred upon the customer. On the other hand, a number of families have started using alternate options such as compressors, cylinders, electric roti makers, and electric stoves to cook food in their homes to avoid buying from outside.

In this regard, Bibi who is a housewife and resides in Arya mohalla in Rawalpindi said that "Normally I prefer to cook healthy and hygienic food for my family but now the outage of gas has compelled us to buy unhygienic food from the restaurants almost regularly which is affecting the health of my family.” She further said that “Many restaurants are also taking advantage of the situation and have increased the prices of food which badly disturbs the overall budget which is a big concern for me."

Sadia who is a working woman complained that “The low gas pressure in my area has multiplied my problems as I cannot finish my kitchen work on time and get late from my office almost every day."

On the other hand, “Restaurants and tandoors are not a good solution as there are long queues outside during breakfast and dinner times which are times of rush for working people."

Another citizen, Saleem Akram who is a resident of G-10/3 said, “My mother is a patient of arthritis which gets more intense during winter.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2023.