SNGPL issues winter gas load shedding schedule for Punjab, K-P

According to the schedule consumers will receive gas in three distinct intervals throughout the day

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited has issued a revised gas load-shedding schedule for Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, aimed at managing the rising demand during the winter months.

According to the schedule released by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) for the period from December to February, consumers will receive gas in three distinct intervals throughout the day. The company advised households to plan activities such as cooking breakfast and meals during the allocated gas supply periods.

Under the new timetable, gas will be available from 5:30 am to 8:30 am, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, and from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Officials clarified that industrial users will not face load shedding. However, winter demand for gas has surged significantly, prompting the utility to implement scheduled supply cuts for residential areas.

The revised plan reflects efforts by SNGPL to ensure equitable distribution while managing pressures on the gas network during peak consumption months.

Read More: PM directs uninterrupted gas supply to domestic consumers during winter

On Friday, lawmakers raised concerns over unannounced electricity and gas load-shedding across the country as procedural disputes and protests delayed the proceedings of the upper house. The Senate session was convened under the chairmanship of Shahadat Awan.

Senator Manzoor Kakar slammed the government over persistent power and gas outages, asserting that while sufficient electricity and gas supplies were available, the government still failed to deliver relief to the masses.

He blamed the crisis on rampant electricity theft, lamenting that the cost of these losses was being passed onto the public. "Gas comes from Balochistan, yet the people of the province do not receive it. Travelling from Balochistan to Karachi or Islamabad costs Rs70-80 thousand in fares, which ordinary people cannot afford."

Likewise, Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro lamented that people in Sindh also faced similar issues of gas load-shedding in winter, adding that it affected the industry the most.

"Both Sindh and Balochistan produce gas, but public facilities in both provinces are negligible. PPL is moving its head office from Karachi to Islamabad. Why are offices being relocated from the regions where gas is produced?"

"Public problems are the responsibility of both the government and the opposition. The purpose of raising these issues is not criticism but to highlight problems," he stressed.

During the session, procedural disruptions occurred as opposition members questioned the quorum. Amid the commotion, Bilal Badar Chaudhry took his oath as a Senate member, prompting slogans from the gallery in support of Nawaz Sharif, which were later restrained by Nuzhat Sadiq.

Opposition members demanded the removal of those causing the disturbance. Sahibzada Sibghatullah also pointed out the quorum discrepancies, calling the oath-taking "illegal".

Tensions escalated with sharp exchanges between Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and opposition members, forcing the house to suspend proceedings for 15 minutes.

Senator Masroor Ahsan expressed concerns over nationwide electricity shortages, decrying nationwide unannounced load-shedding. "A poor person missing a bill for one month has their electricity cut, while government institutions owe almost 1.75 trillion rupees. Over one trillion rupees are due from federal institutions."

"During Ramazan, electricity and gas will also go off at iftar time. For God's sake, provide some relief to the people. Start with your own house. Has the government taken any action against federal institutions that owe electricity bills?"