The three days the gas is available, there is such a low pressure that preparing even a cup of tea becomes difficult. So the people turn to wood to get a fire going. ILLUSTRATION: KIRAN SHAHID
Ever wondered why firewood is still being used for preparing meals in the city?
The ill-fated residents of Fazal Town, Shah Khalid Colony, Tajabad, Nazir Colony, Mumtaz Colony, Adiala Road, Saddar, Jan Colony, Chamanzar Colony, Dhoke Mangtal, People’s Colony, Dhoke Syedan, Dhoke Chaudhrian, Committee Chowk, Dhoke Khabba, Dhoke Elahi Bakhsh, Nadeem Colony, Arya Mohallah, Pirwadhai, Bakra Mandi, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Dhamial, Gulistan Colony, Carriage Factory, Qasimabad and Misriyal Road, Dheri Hasanabad, Qasimabad, Muslim Town, Khurram Colony, Chungi No. XIII, Ghori Town, Khayban-e-Sir Syed and Satellite Town, have no access to gas for four days a week.
The three days the gas is available, there is such a low pressure that preparing even a cup of tea becomes difficult. So the people turn to wood to get a fire going.
“We are using wood not because of nostalgia or tradition but low gas pressure,” said Sadaqat Hussain, who runs a tandoor in Fazal Town.
Naseem Ahmad, a resident of Nazir Colony, said, “People living in the areas [with proper gas supply] can hardly imagine what life might be like when the gas starts to run out. It is the worst in winters.”
Farhat Abbas, a resident of Shah Khalid Colony, said, “The cold is inconvenient, but sweaters can keep us warm. Cooking meals with low gas pressure is a big problem however and even lukewarm showers are a luxury.”
Choudhary Anwar, a trader in Ghori Town, said he first thought he could do without a heater. “But I was wrong. Luckily I had a tiny electric heater to use.”
Raheela Mirza, a housewife, recalled how she could not cook lunch the previous day. “At lunchtime, the cold hit me like a wall. It was so chilly that I got into bed to warm up. As I couldn’t cook lunch, I made some toast and heated up leftover soup in the microwave.”
Jameela Rehmat, a teacher in Tajabad, said, “Teatime raises a new conundrum. There is no gas, so what would we drink? We are confused. For dinner, we could have had a salad, but with the temperature dropping we wanted something warm and solid.”
The family ultimately settled for a dinner from a nearby restaurant, but “washing up with cold water wasn’t fun.”
Officials of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited were unwilling to comment on situation. When pressed, one official said that one of his colleagues has already been transferred to a new station for making an “unwise comment”.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2013.
COMMENTS (20)
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True to your predictions, it so happened in our area of Kohistan Colony, Mr. Rasheed, if not to your area. What can we -- the helpless guys -- do under the prevailing circumstances except grumbling?
Gas is back to normal since yesterday, I fear that during the new wave of cold as predicted by meteorological department we may have to face the gas-cut again.God help.
Yesterday there was zero gas pressure and and we abused the SNGPL authorities and today suddenly the gas pressure rose to the full and we extend thanks to SNGPL officials. Is it by chance, I still wonder! Let me hope for the better.
Despite the general impression propagated by CNGPL guys that during period of severe cold gas pressure automatically lowers, it was really surprising to note that gas pressure remained excellent in poor Chaklala localities even during chilly weather. I wonder what to say about this phenomenon!!!.
Thanks God after a long period of five days CNG is flowing at the moment to Shah Khalid Colony. God knows what would happen the next hour. I'm compelled to say so because the proper gas pressure has become really unpredictable even during the days of Cas stations closure.
The government will have to opt favoring either cooking meals or running luxury cars on cheaper fuel. Gas consumption by transport sector will have to be discouraged quite strongly to ensure regular and uninterrupted gas supply to domestic consumers.
Amjad Ali's voice is the entire nation's voice.The government seems to have no interest in seeking an end to the serious gas crisis in domestic sector.
Localities around Tipu road are also victims of the callousness of SNGPL guys. Even when the CNG stations were closed we had no gas, My family members living in Ganjmandi have staged a protest in front of I - 9 Sector office of SNGPL but with no effect. Is there anybody who will listen to us. Thanks for raising the common problem of Pindiites. Please also send the Express TV team to highlight our miseries.
We are using dung instead of gas for cooking in Nazir Colony as we are too poor to buy LPG cylinder. This is the everyday bitter reality for us.
We the residents of Airport Link Road are suffering. In addition to LPG cylinders, the shortage of gas has led to the use of kerosene stoves and electric stoves by many. House furniture is being used for cooking food When the cooking gas crisis would ease. We are not burning any of the furniture which is in use. Only the old and unused ones is being used for cooking.
Gas distribution companies should clarify as to why masses are being punished in winter. People are being forced to use costly alternative of LPG, which is not affordable for the majority.
The news in the media that CNG pumps were extracting gas from pipelines through their heavy compressors while authorities concerned had turned deaf ear to this menace was quite shocking.
Cheap fuel should be for the poor and not for the rich. Unfortunately the affluent converted their luxury cars to CNG. Who is responsible for this situation? CNG use as a fuel was launched without any forethought, so, the domestic sector distress was but natural.
One doesn’t have to think hard to understand that the policy of setting up CNG stations had either ulterior motives or lacked prudence. Resultantly, both the public and private vehicles were converted from petrol to gas, trillions of rupees of CNG was stolen by these stations in connivance with the corrupt staff of SNGPL -- a phenomenon that is still going uninterrupted -- thus causing the closure and flight of industry and leading to domestic sector sufferings. Under an unjust and discriminatory system of distribution of gas to city areas, can people expect any kind of relief?
Those sitting in the posh cozy homes can't imagine the plight of us, the poor. Firewood is the only option for us.
Why, in the first instance, this unwise policy of opening of CNG stations was adopted and pursued. Didn't the SNGPL authorities had foresight to judge its consequences? Our industry and domestic sector is the worst sufferer. Shifting of many industrial units to foreign lands seems a conspiracy against the people of Pakistan in collaboration with the SNGPL officials!!! Why are we being deprived of jobs and comforts of life?
There is limit to people's patience. Why the SNGPL officials are so insensitive to the low gas pressure problem in domestic sector? Who is pressurizing them to kill the poor and save the elite? Why Bahria Town and other posh areas are being given full gas pressure? Why not us, the underprivileged?
Not to speak of other family members including the aged and patients, the most terrible victims of low gas pressure are school going kids who have to leave their homes without proper breakfast.
It is amazing that despite suspension of gas supply to CNG stations the domestic sector is continuing to suffer due to low pressure of gas. It means the gas filling stations are stealing gas in connivance with SNGPL guys.
Cold and gas cut has added to our miseries. I live in Dhok Elahi Bakhsh and suffer along with my family members. My old parents and small kids are the real victims of this low pressure gas phenomenon.