LAHORE: After the increase in electricity load shedding duration, citizens of provincial capital have started experiencing low gas pressure while the winter is yet to properly set in.
The consumers of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Company Limited (SNGPL) on Monday were seen complaining about the inconvenience caused in almost all localities of the city. Several residents stated that they used Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as an alternative but it was not affordable for many.
Zia, a resident of Johar Town told Pakistan Today that people of the area were facing low gas pressure since last week while at night the gas pressure goes at its lowest. “This is beginning of the winter when people have not started operating their gas geysers and they still face this problem,” he said and lamented that the government could not resolve the long-lasting issue of gas shortage as people had to face such situation every year.
Another resident of Ali Town, Aftab Alam while complaining of low gas pressure said that officials of SNGPL were least interested in solving problems of the masses. He feared that the situation could become even worse; stating that the availability of LPG could also be disturbed due to an ever-increasing demand. He urged the authorities concerned to take steps for regularising the gas supply during the winter season.
The people of Mughalpura, Gari Shahu, Township, Samanabad, Clifton Colony, Cavalry Grounds and some parts of Gulberg and Wapda Town were also facing problems the problem of low gas pressure.
It has been observed that many residents have started finding alternate sources of energy in the absence of a proper supply of gas. Citizen has started buying LPG gas cylinders while people in the periphery and other low-income areas have been forced to burn wood and use kerosene oil.
In previous years, during the winter season, many demonstrations have been observed in the city when people came out on roads across the country due to low gas pressure.
Meanwhile, a SNGPL official claimed that the gas supply had been normal and there was no complaint of low pressure. He added that there could be a localised problem of low gas pressure which could be easily rectified. He stated that currently Lahore region was receiving more than 320 MMFC of gas per day which is 25 MMFC more than its share and the supply has increased by 40 to 45 MMFC per day as compared to summers.
“To meet the shortfall in the region, the company has planned to shut down the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations permanently which will feed five to six MMFC per day in the system to facilitate domestic sector,” he said.
This scribe tried to contact SNGPL General Manager Lahore Qaiser Masood but as per the latest development, he was not available for comment on the issue.