Gas shortage pushes twin cities literally to Stone Age

Rawalpindi
As per routine, around 70% of domestic consumers are facing difficulties in cooking food and heating their homes because of zero gas pressure in most localities of the city, but the government is not paying any attention to resolve the issue. Zero gas pressure has pushed public literally to the Stone Age as majority of families are either using firewood or coal to cook food in their houses.
On the other hand, for a couple of days the residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have been facing harsh weather as icy winds coming from hilly areas of Murree, Nathiagali and Ayubia have intensified chill in the air. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the intensity of cold would continue.
Since the start of current winter season, the low or zero gas pressure has added to the miseries of residents as they are forced to opt for other energy options for cooking food and heating their homes.
The residents of Rehmatabad, Dhoke Munshi, Morgah, Al-Mumtaz Colony, Adiala Road, Tahli Morri, Dehri Hassanabad, Gorakhpur, Gulistan Colony, Chaklala Scheme-III, Jan Colony, Adra, Dhamial, Tench Bhata and Misrial have been facing zero gas pressure round-the-clock for five days. On the other hand, the residents of Arya Mohallah, Committee Chowk, Mohallah Naik Alam, Asghar Mall, Pirwadhai, Dhoke Mangtal, Dhoke Ratta, Soan, Rawat, Bakramandi, Babar Colony, Dhoke Hassu, Dhoke Illahi Bakhsh, Gulzar-i-Quaid, Khanna Dak, British Homes, PIA Colony and several other localities are facing zero gas pressure in morning and evening.
The gas pressure is playing hide and seek with public in other areas where families try to cook food whenever gas is available.
No doubt, the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) officials are visiting different localities to monitor gas pressure in homes, but not resolving the issue.
Rawalpindi-Islamabad Naanbais Welfare Association President Muhammad Shafiq Qureshi said that ‘naanbais’ are facing difficulties due to low gas pressure at ‘tandoors’. “The SNGPL is continuously sending us inflated bills despite the fact that we are not receiving gas for last three months,” he denounced. ‘Naanbais’ are either using LPG cylinders or firewood to run their business but the government is taking this matter non-seriously,” he added.
Naeem Ahmed Qureshi, an official of SNGPL Rawalpindi Region, told ‘The News’ that they were monitoring gas pressure in homes. “The gas pressure in homes will improve soon,” he claimed. He said that only a few weeks are left in the winter season and after cold winter problems would automatically be resolved.
Talking to ‘The News,’ residents of different localities deplored the inability of the SNGPL in providing gas in winter season.
Muhammad Rizwan, a resident of Adiala Road, said that extra burden of buying cooked food or fuel for cooking has disturbed household budgets of most families.
“The gas pressure is almost zero in the morning and evening. As a result, we have to go to hotels and ‘tandoors’ to get cooked food and ‘rotis,’ which are quite expensive,” Imtiaz Ahmed, told ‘The News.’
He said that the concerned officials of the government had time and again assured them of smooth supply of gas, but the problem still persists despite closure of all compressed natural gas (CNG) stations for three months.
Muhammad Raheel, a domestic consumer, said that even closure of all CNG stations has not eased the situation. He said that the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as an alternative energy source has put extra burden on his pocket.