Protest staged against SNGPL over gas loadshedding

PESHAWAR: Domestic consumers on Monday staged protest against gas loadshedding and blocked Nauthia-Gulberg road for traffic.

The residents of Nauthia, Gulberg, Mushtaqabad, Lewanay Baba, and Jandar Gali staged the protest against the excessive gas loadshedding.They were chanting slogans against the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL). The protesters said though loadshedding was being carried out in routine, situation turned worse in the past three weeks.

Muhammad Shahid, a resident of Mushtaqabad, said gas supply was suspended at 5am in the morning and restored at 11pm at night. “We have purchased gas cylinders and used liquefied natural gas (LNG) to prepare breakfast and food for lunch and dinner,” he said.

He said they have also stored firewood to use it for cooking food in case of emergency. The resident said several consumers have installed gas suction machines due to low gas pressure, which could be a gas unavailability factor.

Other speakers lamented that they had time and again brought the issue of gas loadshedding into the notice of SNGPL officials but to no avail. They threatened to stage protest outside the building of provincial assembly if gas loadshedding was not stopped.

SNGPL spokesman Shah Faisal told this correspondent gas pipeline in Saddar area was relocated and a new one was laid down, adding the two localities would be connected soon with the new pipeline, which would resolve the issue.