Loadshedding, low gas pressure hitting consumers hard

PESHAWAR: Gas loadshedding and lower pressure in various parts of the provincial capital is hitting the consumers hard particularly housewives who are facing problems with preparing food for Sehr and Iftar.

There are areas where people complain about the gas loadshedding while the suspension of the commodity due to the damage caused to the gas pipelines due to the work on the Rapid Bus Transit (BRT) project on daily basis has also become a headache for the consumers.

The gas loadshedding and its suspension due to the damage of the pipelines on the BRT work forced the people to get their cylinders filled with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The consumers complained that the LPG shops were taking advantage of the situation and overcharging the people.

Three hours gas loadshedding is being carried out in Kakshal locality in Peshawar from the first of Ramazan which irks the domestic consumers.

“The gas loadshedding is being carried out from 4-7pm daily from first Ramazan in the area. We cook food for Iftar before 2pm,” said Irfan Shehzad, a resident of Kakshal.

The complaints were also received from Nauthia, Jadeed and several localities of interior city.

The people from Gulbahar, Warsak Road, Dilazak Road, Pajaggi Road, Faqir Killay, Hassan Ghari, Saeedabad, Rasheedabad, Bashirabad and other areas are facing the low gas pressure problems as well.

Other domestic consumers said that owing to the gas loadshedding and low pressure, they had to turn to LPG to prepare food for Sehr and Iftar.

“I am paying Rs 130 per kg for LPG daily as I and my family cannot go without food during Sehr and Iftar. The gas loadshedding is carried out in colonies located on Dilazak Road,” complained a resident.

When contacted, an SNGPL official blamed the low gas pressure on the suction machines installed by the compressed natural gas (CNG) gas stations and some domestic consumers.

The pipelines damaged due to the BRT work also caused major gas disruptions twice the previous week.

The damage to pipelines on Grand Trunk (GT) Road on Tuesday and near the offices of Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) in Phase-V in Hayatabad on Saturday caused suspension of the utility to major parts of the provincial capital for hours. It forced the consumers to either turn to LPG or buy food from eateries for Iftar.

A spokesperson for SNGPL, Shah Faisal, denied the reports of carrying out loadshedding in any area, saying the gas supply was only suspended whenever the pipelines were damaged due the work on the BRT. “We immediately dispatch teams to repair the damaged pipelines and resume gas supply in the minimum possible time,” he added. He also attributed the low gas pressure to the BRT work as well.

Another SNGPL official who deals with the lower gas pressure areas, Aftab Muhammad Khan said that they ensured full gas pressure during Sehr and Iftar times. “We check gas pressure at Sehr and Iftar to ensure full gas pressure,” he claimed.

He said that teams comprising SNGPL officials had been formed to take action on public complaints, adding the consumers can file complaints at helpline number 1199 about low or the gas suspension.