15-hour gas load shedding takes effect in country

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ISLAMABAD
The gas supply to different parts of the country has been cut short by 15 hours as now the consumers will receive gas only three times a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) as per the decision taken by the federal government.
People are livid in both big and small cities of the country that they have to contend with short gas supply in winters, and to make the matter further worse the weather is becoming chillier by the day.
They have said that there is gas loadshedding in winters, electricity outages in summers and to rub salt into their wounds, wood and LPG have also become costly.
With drop in temperatures, the gas supply to Lahore and its adjoining areas has been reduced considerably.
Gas is supplied for three hours in the morning; two-and-a-half hours in the afternoon and three hours in the evening.
Inflation-hit people have said that since they cannot afford food at restaurants, they have been now forced to buy cylinders to cook food.
The sources have further said that the demand has increased particularly after people have turned their geysers on following considerable dip in temperatures.
And the problem is not restricted to loadshedding only as even when the gas is supplied, it is in short supply.
Things have come to such a pass that it is becoming increasingly difficult for the SNGPL to supply gas even three times a day.
Same is the situation in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and their suburbs as here too the gas supply is not enough to meet the needs of domestic consumers.
So much so that people are even finding it hard to cook meals three times a day. People have demanded the authorities to ensure an adequate gas supply.
Women in the country’s largest city Karachi have been left with no option but to purchase woods to prepare their meals. It gives the impression as if they are not living in a megacity but in a village.
The situation is particularly worrying in Bahadurabad, Numaish, Lines Area, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Saddar and Layyari areas of the port city. People are also complaining of short gas supply in New Karachi, Buffer Zone, Orangi Town and Baldia Town.
They say it is not always possible for them to go to restaurants or avail the takeaway facility because of price hike.
On the other hand, the supply of gas to the CNG stations in Sindh and Balochistan was suspended for a 24-hour period at 8: AM on Sunday.
The situation is no different in cities of Punjab such as Arifwala, Narowal, Hafizabad and Gujranwala.
In Gujranwala, the price of woods costing Rs700 per maund has gone up to Rs1, 000 per maund.
In Hafizabad too, consumers are suffering because of gas loadshedding which has even reached 20 hours now. The circumstances have forced them to buy LPG cylinders and woods. People in the city and its suburbs have to send their children to schools without food.
Residents of Narowal seem to be the worst sufferers as the gas supply has come down in the city and its surrounding areas to four hours only.