LAHORE – Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) has decreased gas pressure for domestic usage and CNG stations, causing huge problems for consumers. Consumers faced difficulties in preparing food due to very low gas pressure in the city during the last two days. The gas pressure remained low in every part of the city including Gulberg, Township, Garden Town, Shadman, Muslim Town, Wahdat Road and the Walled City.
On the other hand, low gas pressure at CNG stations irked motorists. A number of CNG stations stopped sales because of low gas pressure. Despite the regular two day closure on Monday and Tuesday, SNGPL did not spare CNG stations from low gas pressure. Motorists said they used to re-fill their vehicles ahead of the two-day closure but now SNGPL has left no option for them but to run vehicles on more expensive fuels i.e. petrol and diesel.
They criticised SNGPL for not fulfilling its commitment to the domestic and CNG consumers. “I used to fill CNG in advance but there was very low gas pressure at CNG stations and I could not get gas despite visiting many CNG stations,” said an automobile owner Agha Javed. He said SNGPL Managing Director Rasheed Lone has admitted that there are huge reserves of gas and production of gas would double but SNGPL officials are deliberately depriving consumers of gas.
He added, “Only domestic consumers and CNG stations are put in trouble whereas industries are supplied gas without interruption.” Another motorist Akhter Hassan said, “If SNGPL officials work with honest approach then no issue of gas availability will occur.” The domestic consumers complained they have been facing low gas pressure for the last two days and were unable to cook meals.
They said the company is least bothered about domestic users and kept depriving them of gas on regular basis. “We did not have gas throughout winter and have to use LPG and woods for cooking meals,” said a housewife Humaira Akram adding there was no gas for the last two days, once again.
