Rawalpindi - Low gas pressure has badly affected the routine life of the citizens in the district while alternative sources like wood, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and coal are being sold at high rates.
The helpless citizens have been agitating and blocking roads against the government and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) authorities for non-provision of gas during winter. On the other hand, the SNGPL officials claim that limited supply of gas is available to meet domestic as well as commercial demand in cold weather. But the residents reject this claim, saying mismanagement and failure on part of policymakers sitting in ministry of petroleum and natural resources are the main causes behind gas suspension.
Citizens are facing extreme low pressure of gas in the areas of Dhamial, Hayyal, Bank Colony, Mohra Faqeeran, Tower’s Street, Jorian, Gulshan-e-Saeed, Lalazar II, Rasoolabad, Iqbal Colony, Ashraf Colony, Chakri Road, Quaid e Azam Colony, Ahmedabad, Bakra Mandi, Dhoke Syedan, Girja Road, Baraf Khana, Chakra, Misrial Road, Peshawar Road, Shalley Valley, Pirwadhai, IJP Road, Badar Colony, Fauji Colony, Dhoke Mangtal, Dhoke Elahi Bux, Dhoke Hassu, Commercial Market, Eid Gah, Asghar Mall Sceheme, Banni, Raja Bazaar, 6th Road, 7th Road, Rehmanabad, Committee Chowk, Chah Sultan, Naz Cinema, Sadiqabad, Shakrial, Muhammadi Colony, Fizahiya Colony, Missile Chowk, Airport, Shah Khalid Colony, Rehmatabad, Jhanda Cheechi, Katcheri, Civil Line, Morgah, Gulistan Colony, Dhoke Noor, Kotha Kallan, Dhoke Meera, Gulshanabad, Adiala Road, Kalyal, Shahpur, Gorakhpur, Rehman Markaz, Landco, Rah-e-Sakoon, Kehkashan Colony, Jarahi, Munawar Colony, Hill View Lane, Ali Town, Chungi Number 20, Mubarak Lane, Caltex Road, Tulsa village, Khatana village, Dhoke Juma, Mumtaz Colony, Mumtaz Market and Dhama Syedan.
A resident of Dhama Syedan, Babar Khan said yesterday that gas pressure plummets in the morning and increases late night. “We cannot prepare food for us and are forced to purchase bread from bakeries. The government should solve this issue immediately,” he said.
“The residents have been facing low gas pressure for over two months. Low gas pressure is forcing the consumers to purchase LPG cylinders at high rates,” said Wasim Hussain, a labourer who lives at Jorian.
Uzma Bibi, a housewife, said that despite paying hefty bills, the residents have to spend extra money to purchase wood, coal or LPG cylinders. She said that unavailability of gas has badly affected the routine life of people.
An official of SNGPL, when contacted by The Nation for his comments, said the demand of gas increases in winter as people use heaters and geysers. He said that in some areas people are using compressors to suck gas and this is causing low pressure in other areas. “The SNGPL is not curtailing the supply for domestic consumers as the government has directed it not to resort to gas loadshedding for domestic users in winter,” he said.