Fighting the cold: Consumers protest gas load shedding

Residents said they have had no gas at their homes for three days.

FAISALABAD: Hundreds of residents of Jhang Road, Lakkar Mandi, Partap Nagar and Liaqatabad on Monday staged a protest demonstration against unscheduled gas load shedding.

The protesters, including a large number of women and children, gathered at Jhang-Faisalabad Road and blocked it for traffic.

Sumera Nasreen, one of the protesters, said there had been no gas at their homes for three days.

She said hundreds of complaints had been made to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) but gas supply had not been resumed.

Najma Shafqat, a protester from Liaqatabad, said “My husband quarrels with me, saying I did not prepare his breakfast in time because of which he gets late to work. This is the story of nearly every household.”

Umar Daraz, a protester from Partap Nagar, said “When we complained to the SNGPL, they told us that Partap Nagar was not under the city area where gas connections were allowed legally.”

“SNGPL officials told us that they would investigate whether our gas connections are legal before they take steps to resume gas supply in our area,” he said.

The protesters were carrying posters and placards. They chanted slogans, urging the chief minister to take notice of the situation.

On receipt of information, a police contingent from Jhang Bazaar reached the protest site and assured protesters that their issue would be addressed soon.

The protesters dispersed peacefully on this assurance.

SNGPL spokesman Adnan Rafiq told The Express Tribune that demand for gas had risen exorbitantly over the last few weeks. He said SNPL had evolved a load management schedule to overcome the shortage. “Under the schedule, gas supply to some areas has to be suspended.

As soon as weather improves, gas supply will be restored with full pressure,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2014.