Domestic consumers suffer due to inadequate gas supply

PESHAWAR: Domestic consumers are faced with great hardships due to unscheduled loadshedding of natural gas in different parts of the provincial capital.
With the first rain of the winter and the fall in temperature, the loadshedding of natural gas has increased.
The hide and seek of gas continues from dawn to dusk and poor consumers are compelled to use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or other sources of fuel to meet the needs.
Interestingly, gas supply to different localities of Peshawar, including Gulberg 2, Gulberg 3, Nauthia , parts of Askari 2 colony on Bara Road in Peshawar Saddar and other areas remains suspended because of apparent inefficiency and mismanagement of the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL). The commodity is being misused by those with the means to install compressors and generators to draw more gas to their homes and businesses.
There isn’t much check by the SNGPL on the use of unfair means. Many consumers use compressors to enhance gas pressure and in the process deprive the neighbouring households of the facility.
The use of gas generators is common despite the fact that the practice is illegal. The SNGPL authorities have been saying that those stealing gas would face punishment, but this hasn’t deterred the violators of law.
Consumers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are mostly aware of the fact that the province is producing more gas than its consumption, but they are at a loss to understand why they face low gas pressure and even suspension of supply. It has also been observed that gas supply to industries and CNG stations has remained uninterrupted but the poor domestic consumers, who pay the bills regularly, are being put in trouble.
This unjustified gas loadshedding is earning a bad name for the federal government as consumers believe it is making hollow claims about regular supply of gas to those already connected to the system and also extending the facility to new consumers.