Zero gas pressure even in September

Rawalpindi

Tanoors, hotels and residents of Munawar Colony, Defence Road, Dhok Juma, Hill View Lane, Morgah, Jarai and several other localities are using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to prepare food. This because of low to zero gas pressure in these areas for five days. In some areas gas is non-existent and people are forced to buy expensive food items from hotels in the month of September when temperature is mostly 40 degrees or above in September.

Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd (SNGPL) officials are unable to convincingly tell why such a situation has developed.

The dealers have increased LPG prices in affected localities at will. One kg of LPG is available at Rs95 to Rs110 in hot and humid weather. 

It is also worth mentioning that there were only three to four shops of LPG sellers at Adiala Road but now there are more than 50 dealers of LPG there.

In the light of present situation, a large number of residents of Adiala Road, Defence Road, Munawar Colony, Jarahi, Kalyal, Gulshanabad, Usama Street, Saleha Street, Hill View Lane, Al-Mumtaz Colony on Saturday staged protest demonstration against zero gas pressure in their localities. The angry protesters burnt tyres and raised slogans against SNGPL and blocked Adiala Road for a long time causing traffic jam in the area.

Reportedly, residents of Tench Bhatta, Morgha and Gulistan Colony also staged protest demonstration against low to zero gas pressure on Friday.  The angry protesters have threatened to protest in front of Parliament House if SNGPL did not resume gas supply.

The residents of affected localities are facing bad situation for two months. But, situation became worse for five days when all tanoors and hotels converted their business on LPG. Long queues of people could be seen in front of 'tanoors' as there was no gas pressure at home.

The protesters said that SNGPL had promised to provide them full pressure gas in coming winter but all their promises have proved false as we are deprived of natural gas even in peak summer season.

The SNGPL Senior General Manager (Rawalpindi Circle) Muhammad Zahoor who was continuously giving policy statements told 'The News' that he was personally monitoring gas pressure in all areas. He conceded that some tail end areas are facing gas problems but this problem will be resolved soon. Gas pressure will improve through 'land line system' which will be operational soon, he assured. He said that the majority used gas compressors that was the main reason of gas shortage.

"There is no gas supply even to prepare food items or make a cup of tea," said a lady protester, Samina Ahmed. She said that we are facing worst situation in hot and humid weather but what would happen in winter season, she said worriedly.

Muhammad Waqar a protester said that that PML-N government had promised to provide basic needs of public but all promises proved fake. "It seems that government has pushed us back into stone-age when people used wood and for fire," he denounced. Why is the government not taking action against SNGPL for not providing us natural gas even in hot and humid weather, he asked.