The shortage of gas and electricity has forced many citizens of Karachi to alter their lifestyle; the latest addition, a change in meal times. Long hours of power outages had already forced many in commercial areas to change their working hours. Now, the unavailability of gas at lunch and dinner timings has compelled people to change their meal timings as well. The energy-hit residents of the city now prepare meals before or after the lunch and dinners timings so that gas is available while they are cooking.
The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), despite the closure of all CNG stations two days a week, has failed to maintain the required supply to domestic consumers. However, the gas utility claims that it is catering to the needs of domestic consumers at the cost of industries, CNG stations and power generation companies.
Residents of many areas complain that they are unable to prepare meals from 12pm to 2pm and 7pm to 9pm for the last couple of weeks.
“We now prepare the meal before or after these timings and this has changed our whole routine of life,” a resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar told Pakistan Today.
Even though all CNG stations across Sindh remained closed on Wednesday, residents of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Malir, North Nazimabad, Korangi, Soldier Bazaar, Keamari, Saddar, Manghopir faced the problem of low gas pressure.
Despite the SSGC’s claim that it has taken many steps to meet the increasing gas demand of the city, the sufferings of the people continues.
According to sources within the SSGC, the gap between the demand and supply of gas has widened to over 300mmcfd while the company is hardly saving 50mmfcd by closing the CNG outlets.
Hassan Nawab, the SSGC’s deputy managing director (operations) claimed that the gas company’s complaint centres were not receiving any complaints of gas shortage in the city.
“However, supply to industries is suspended on Sundays and they would continue to facing load shedding,” he added.
“The closure of CNG outlets and suspension of supply to industries would help ease gas shortages and bring the backline pack [the actual amount of gas in the distribution system] situation to normalcy. The line pack had fallen from 950mmcfd to a historical low of 750mmcfd.”
