RAWALPINDI - Residents of various localities of the city are experiencing difficulties due to low gas pressure, particularly at the time of preparation of meals in their kitchens.
According to details, the gas affected areas included Adyala Road, Dhama Syedan, Mumtaz Market, Dhoke Lal Shah, Khatana, Kalhoor, Ali Town, Munawar Colony, Hill View Lane, Wahdat Colony, Jarahi, Meera, Janjua Town, Sanjoli Estate, Kehkashan Colony, Rah-e-Sakoon, Rukhshansa Masjid, Rehman Markaz, Landco, Gulshan-e-Abad, Kalyal, Shahpur, Gorakhpur, Adyala Village, Jorian, Hayyal, Dhamial, Ashraf Colony, Liaquat Colony, Quaid-e-Azam Colony, Chakri Road, Bakramandi, Dhoke Syedan, Baraf Khana Chowk, Girja Road, Tahli Mohri, Dheri, Tulsa, Lalkurti, Indus Road, Katcheri, Morgah, Officer Colony, Kotha Kalan, Jhamra, Saddar, Mareer Chowk, Mareer Hassan, Dhoke Ratta, Dhoke Mangtal, Fauji Colony, Pirwadhai, Commercial Market, New Katarian, Saidpur Road, Shamasabad, Dhoke Kala Khan, Shakrial, Sadiqabad and Muslim Colony.
A large number of people living in different localities of the city contacted by The Nation on Thursday said that they have contacted SNGPL officials in this regard, who were saying that the department could not do any thing as the country is facing shortage of gas.
They said that due to the low gas pressure, they were forced to purchase LPG cylinders to prepare meals. They protested against the unscheduled gas loadshedding. They demanded of the government and SNGPL authorities to take notice of it and increase the gas pressure.
Mukhtar Bibi, a resident of Saddar area, said that the gas pressure was low in her area forcing the people to use alternate fuels, including LPG for preparing food. “My husband is a labourer with Rs 400 income a day. How can I maintain my budget with this meager income when I have to buy LPG cylinder,” she said adding that the government should end gas loadsheeding.
“We are getting extremely low gas pressure during day time for the last two days and the situation is aggravating day by day,” said Amir Nazir, a resident of Adyala Road.
He said that most of the people were unable to use gas stoves in his locality. Majority of CNG stations in the city are opened due to which people are still not getting gas at their houses, he added.
Shahzaman Khan from New Katarian area, said that the people have been facing problems due to low or zero gas pressure in their houses. The mercury dropped significantly in the twin cities and with this change in weather conditions the residents were now facing low or zero gas pressure.
Similarly, the citizens expressed grave concern over the gas loadshedding and low gas pressure, and said that it was affecting their routine lives. They said that they were facing many problems like preparing food for their children in the morning. They said that they used liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as an alternative, but it was expensive and not affordable.
They urged the authorities concerned to take steps for regularizing the gas supply during the winter season.