RAWALPINDI: Despite the recent announcement of Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi saying that people are getting gas according to their needs, most residential areas in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are suffering due to unannounced gas load-shedding in the morning and evening. Government apathy in this regard has irked housewives who are not able to put food on the table for their families.
Gas pressure in most localities of the twin cities and adjoining rural areas was almost zero which irked citizens all day long. The worst affected areas included, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Bangash colony, Fauji colony, Chungi no.22, Lalazar, Dheri, Tali Mori, Tanch Bhatta and areas inside the Cantt. On the other hand, areas in Islamabad that suffered unscheduled load-shedding, included, Khanna Pul and Tarnol.
Meanwhile, housewives from the twin cities were up in arms against the gas load-shedding and strongly criticised the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for mismanagement of resources. They accused the officials concerned for ensuring uninterrupted gas supply to houses of high officials and to posh areas, at the expense of middle class and poor areas, who were not even able to make breakfast due to unavailability of gas.
The protesting housewives said that they were suffering from gas load-shedding since the past four years but the government had only been making hollow promises to them and had failed to address the important issue yet. been making hollow claims to address the problem.
Furthermore, housewives belonging to lower middle class families complained that they were unable to for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to prepare food since the prices of both LNG and fuelwood were beyond their reach. They appealed the PM to pay heed to their problems and ensure equal distribution of gas supply across the country.