Gas Pressure Depletion Irks Citizens Across Pakistan

WEB DESK: With the onset of the winter season across the country, the complaints regarding depleting gas pressure have surged from all over the country too, particularly from the northern part.

The gas goes ‘missing’ in different cities including Peshawar, Quetta, Islamabad, Lahore, etc in the morning and evening and does not restore until late night.

PUNJAB

Gas load shedding has started across the province, including the provincial capital Lahore. The locals of Lahore are facing difficulties in cooking due to low pressure.

People have started using alternative fuel sources such as wood, coal, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders as an offset.

However, the rates of these items have skyrocketed too with rising demand.

In different cities of Punjab, the price of wood has surged from Rs 850 to Rs 1,000 per 40 kilograms (kg).

Further, coal is being sold at Rs 70 to Rs 90 per kg. The price of LPG has surged to Rs 140 per kg too.

During a survey conducted by News360 on the current situation, the sellers of alternative fuels in an interview said that the reason for the increase in prices was the rise in demand.

A timber yard owner Amjad Khan said that the increase in transportation and other costs had increased wood prices. Another reason was deforestation across the province.

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On the other hand, shopkeepers have indicated the possibility of a further increase in coal prices.

What SNGPL officials say

In the wake of the gas load shedding, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) officials told News360 that the difference in demand and supply has widened due to the excessive gas consumption during the winter season.

They said that SNGPL may face a shortage of up to 500 mmcfd.

SNGPL officials told News360 in an interview that in view of increasing demand for gas, import of LNG is being ensured for domestic consumers while load management of gas will be done in industrial and other sectors.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Gas pressure depletion and iload shedding has started in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) too.

In all the districts of the province, including Peshawar, the people are suffering low pressure and in some areas, it goes off in morning and night and get available only a few hours a day.

Gulbahar, Afridi Garhi, Faqirabad, Kakshal, Wazir Bagh, and Hazar Khawani are among the most affected areas of Peshawar city.

Subsequently, dilapidated pipelines have been replaced in some areas to reduce load shedding but it did not make any difference in supply.

After the protests in different areas, the government representatives have assured that the problem of gas load shedding and low pressure in the city will be solved soon.

Currently, six to seven hours of load shedding is being done in different parts of the city at different hours. In rural and suburban areas, this duration is even higher.

Islamabad

Gas pressure depletion has been reported in Islamabad and adjoining areas too. The pressure stays extremely low from evening till night.

As the people turn on heaters after sunset, the gas pressure depletes.

However, the gas pressure remains normal in posh sectors of Islamabad.

SNGPL officials said that with the onset of winter, the pressure has decreased due to the increase in demand.

Sindh

In Sindh province, the temperatures do not drop as much like northern areas of the country so the complaints of low gas pressure aren’t received quite often.

However, despite this, the city is receiving reports from various parts of the country of reduced pressure or load shedding.

Complaints of depleting gas pressure have been received from Defense, New Karachi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Sharafi Goth, Lee Market, and other areas.