Winter woes: Protest held against gas load shedding
Winter woes: Protest held against gas load shedding
FAISALABAD:
Dozens of people staged a protest demonstration on Tuesday against gas load shedding and the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).
Women and children from Batala Colony, People’s Colony, Sarfraz Colony, Dogar Basti, Elahiabad and Allahabad came out on the Satiana-Faisalabad Road and blocked it for traffic.
They burnt tyres and erected roadblocks near Gaintanwala Chowk.
They chanted slogans against the SNGPL and demanded immediate restoration of gas supply.
Muhammad Ahmad, one of the protesters, said that the gas pressure was very low in the morning and again in the evening. “It is impossible to prepare breakfast or cook anything,” he said.
Another protester, Hamida Liaqat, said that they were buying food from tandoors and hotels for the last couple of days.
Shamsa Naheed, a protester, said that they had complained to the SNGPL about the problem, but no action had been taken. “The SNGPL should ensure the provision of gas in the morning and evening for preparing meals,” she said.
Another woman, Nadia Anjum, said that the government should give priority to the domestic consumers in winter and not the industrial sector.
The protest continued for two hours. A police team visited the area and talked with the protesters. They assured them that their demands would be conveyed to the SNGPL management. The protesters stated that they would hold a similar protest in the coming days if the issue was not resolved immediately. They then dispersed.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2014.
Dozens of people staged a protest demonstration on Tuesday against gas load shedding and the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).
Women and children from Batala Colony, People’s Colony, Sarfraz Colony, Dogar Basti, Elahiabad and Allahabad came out on the Satiana-Faisalabad Road and blocked it for traffic.
They burnt tyres and erected roadblocks near Gaintanwala Chowk.
They chanted slogans against the SNGPL and demanded immediate restoration of gas supply.
Muhammad Ahmad, one of the protesters, said that the gas pressure was very low in the morning and again in the evening. “It is impossible to prepare breakfast or cook anything,” he said.
Another protester, Hamida Liaqat, said that they were buying food from tandoors and hotels for the last couple of days.
Shamsa Naheed, a protester, said that they had complained to the SNGPL about the problem, but no action had been taken. “The SNGPL should ensure the provision of gas in the morning and evening for preparing meals,” she said.
Another woman, Nadia Anjum, said that the government should give priority to the domestic consumers in winter and not the industrial sector.
The protest continued for two hours. A police team visited the area and talked with the protesters. They assured them that their demands would be conveyed to the SNGPL management. The protesters stated that they would hold a similar protest in the coming days if the issue was not resolved immediately. They then dispersed.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2014.