Gas crisis in Peshawar multiplies sufferings of consumers

PESHAWAR: The lack of gas supply and its low pressure in most parts of the provincial metropolis has multiplied the sufferings of the people and started triggering protests by angry consumers.

Although the problem is there in majority of the localities, the worst-hit areas are Faqirabad, Bashirabad, Hassan Garhi No.1 & 2, Zaryab Colony, Kakshal, Kohati, Yakkatoot, Wazirbagh Road, Sard Chah Gate, Dilazak Road, Momin Town, Corporation Colony, Faisal Colony Nauthia, Gulberg, Hashtnagri, Firdous, Gulbahar, Yakatoot, Qissa Khwani, old quarters of the city, Ghari Qamardin and several other villages situated on the Kohat Road and the Ring Road.

The citizens complained that either no gas supply at different times of the day or the pressure is too low to meet the needs in this chilly weather.

They said the ongoing gas crisis in chilling weather had put people in trouble as women were unable to prepare the meal for either the lack or poor gas supply and the children had to leave for school without breakfast.

The people are turning to other means such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and fuelwood to meet their needs. All this is putting an extra burden on their domestic budget in this price-hike. The consumers pointed out that lack of gas supply and low pressure has been a permanent problem in Peshawar in every winter for the last several years but the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) officials have failed to come up with a solution.

The citizens recalled that the SNGPL officials had last year claimed that the problem would be over within two months as pipelines of wider diameters were being laid to replace the old and smaller ones. But they said the present gas crisis had belied their claims.

The consumers pointed out that KP was producing gas a huge quantity of natural gas which was greater than the local consumption, adding the denial of the amenity to the province was a highly condemnable act.

The citizens were critical of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government and the public representatives from Peshawar for not addressing the gas shortage and low-pressure issue. A number of villagers on Kohat Road and Ring Road complained of low pressure of gas for the last several weeks and demanded the SNGPL officials to resolve the issue.

Villagers of Garhi Qamardin and others located on the Ring Road and the Kohat Road asked the authorities to send a team to fix the issue and provide relief to hundreds of houses where women are facing acute shortage of gas during the peak hours. Meanwhile, the gas crisis in the city has started triggering protests by the affected consumers. One such protest was staged by the residents of the Irshadabad and Nothern Vilas Colony of the Warsak Road. They gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club and registered anger at the gas crisis.