Winter woes: Residents of Saidu Sharif take to the streets over gas load-shedding

MINGORA:

Residents of Saidu Sharif protested outside Swat Press Club on Friday to draw attention to severe gas load-shedding in the area.

Rallies were taken out from different areas of Saidu Sharif. Protesters held banners, placards and shouted slogans against Sui Northern Gas Private Limited (SNGPL) and the elected representatives. Residents also burnt tyres and blocked Saidu Sharif-Mingora Road for all traffic.



They urged the authorities to address their concerns and restore gas supply to their houses.

“My wife has to get up at 3am to prepare breakfast because gas load-shedding is observed from 4am till midnight (20 hours),” Saeed Khan, a resident of Saidu Sharif told The Express Tribune.

According to other protesters, gas load-shedding is observed in the area every day for over 14 hours during winter. Yet, their gas woes have not been resolved despite repeated protests.

“Sui gas has not benefitted us as SNGPL suspends our supply for a large portion of the day,” said Abdullah, a resident of College Colony.

Moreover, the gas shortage has also affected the lives of students living in hostels.

“Over the last month, gas load-shedding has become more severe,” said Shaista Hakim, a student of Swat University, “We can no longer cook and our expenses have doubled because we now have to buy food from outside.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2014.