Low gas pressure persists in Rawalpindi

Islamabad:Low gas pressure in different areas of Rawalpindi especially in the morning hours has multiplied the sufferings of users and women were compelled to adopt unsafe and risky alternate like compressors and cylinders to cook food for their families.

Majority of the women have started using cylinders, compressors and electric roti makers to manage cooking food for their families considering it difficult to afford buying food from restaurants all the time and digest unhealthy food available at markets.

Irum Naz, a working woman said, “I started using cylinder last year in winter to cook food for my family but experienced leakage of flammable gas due to loose valve of cylinder after which I stopped using it.

While using compressors is also risky and illegal.” This year, she said she had made it routine to cook food in the midnight when gas pressure turns normal, adding, "and I bought an electric roti maker to make roti but the taste of that Roti is altogether different from the one made on gas". A housewife, Shazia Amin said, "We are paying gas bills on time but are not getting the gas facility.

Our children are suffering from seasonal diseases due to cold weather and non-availability of heating facility owing to extreme low pressure of gas". "We cannot use cylinders all the time due to increased rates of Liquid Petroleum Gas. I refill my cylinder with four kg for around Rs900 which consumes in few days if I use it for heating purposes".

It is to be mentioned here that people residing in Waris Khan, Committee Chowk, Dhoke Khaba, Umer Road, Dhoke Ealhi Bukush, Arya Mohallah, Pirwadhai, Adiala Road, Dhoke Syedan, Tench Bhatta, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Shah Khalid Colony, Pindora and Shah Khalid Colony are facing difficulties due to low gas pressure. Zaakir Hussain, a shopkeeper at cylinder shop, said low gas pressure has compelled majority of the people to use cylinder for cooking purposes.

"We have a lot of customers who come to buy cylinders and refill their cylinders, giving us opportunity to earn more", he said.

Art classes: Art and Craft training classes at National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) continue to attract the aspirants of painting and calligraphy from twin cities on every weekend.

Talking to this agency, an official of Lok Virsa said that ‘Craft is Knowledge’, classes are now in full swing with new students coming to register themselves every day. “The official said these classes were an effort to promote crafts field along with polishing the creative skills of the young blood,” he added. He said the aspirants were taking keen interest in different Gandhara stone carving, calligraphy, folk paintings and calligraphy. He said that these classes are teaching by different master artisans and calligraphers to groom their learning skills in art and craft.

“Youngsters especially students are taking admission in our courses which will enhance their skills in art and craft. He said that it will be a 3-month course with monthly fee of Rs3,000 (non-refundable) adding that per participant to be paid in advance. He said that any citizen can participate in these classes without any age bracket and timings will be 4 to 6 pm (Saturday & Sunday).