Even PM’s residence is without gas

ISLAMABAD: Natural gas pressure is now zero at the residence of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and his family is using LPG cylinders for cooking, as he did not make special arrangements to ensure supply.

Gas pressure is very low not only in Street 18, Sector F-7/2 and Street 57, Sector F-7/3 but also in entire Islamabad, forcing thousands of families to use LPG. The prime minister avoided taking special measures for his house, saying he would not do so when the gas pressure in very low in the twin cities and most areas of Punjab.

Sources say 1,000 CNG stations out of a total of 1,700 have been shut in Punjab and the federal capital. Pakistan CNG Association Secretary-General Yasir Raza Chaudhry told the The News that the number of vehicles using CNG in Punjab had reduced to 0.5 million from 3.5 million.

According to Yasir, even if gas supply to these vehicles is stopped or the CNG stations are closed, only 200 million cubic feet of gas would be available. The quantity of imported of LNG added to the transmission system is 1.2 billion cubic feet, while the daily domestic production is 4 billion cubic feet. Pakistan needs import of additional LNG as the gas shortage stands at 2.8 billion cubic feet, as daily demand in winter has reached 8 billion cubic feet.

However, the supply situation will improve in June/July next year with the operationalisation of third LNG terminal which will help add another 600 million cubic feet of gas.

Meanwhile, gas loadshedding in Islamabad and Rawalpindi will end in March after reduction in demand.