Consumers say SNGPL regional officials were least bothered to resolve the issue despite several complaints
JAVED KHAN
PESHAWAR
The people of the provincial metropolis have been dealing with severe gas shortage even during the holy month of Ramadan.
The unavailability or low gas pressure on Thursday, the first day of Ramadan, is expected to continue as residents of Peshawar are enraged at what they see as government incompetence.
Scores of people on the very first day of Ramadan were looking for alternative cooking fuel options to cook food for two times in the holy month.
The unprecedented inflation, skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and unannounced lengthy loadshedding have already made the lives of people miserable, the residents of Peshawar are facing yet another challenge of gas shortage in the beginning of Ramdan.
Major complaints regarding low gas pressure and shortages have been reported from across the metropolis, with citizens expecting a major cooking crisis.
According to a notification issued by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) with the onset of the holy month of Ramadan all regional heads have been directed to ensure optimum gas supply during Sehr timing from 3:00 a.m to 7:00 a.m and Iftar timings from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
However, the citizens in the provincial capital are still experiencing a very low gas pressure.
Iqbal Ahmad, resident of inner city said that “our family faced gas shortage during the sehri and the situation was aggravated in the iftar as there was no gas pressure.
“We have been forced to go outside to purchase some cooked food from the market,” he added and said due to lack of gas in our area many families have started using expensive gas cylinders for cooking.
He demanded of the federal government and SNGPL high-ups to ensure supply of gas in the holy month.
Sui gas subscriber’s complaints about the suspension of gas supply and low gas pressure were received from Gulberg, Saddar, University Road, Yakatut, Kohati gate, Faqirabad, Hayatabad and other areas.
They said that a number of complaints have been registered on the online portal of the SNGPL but the officials of the region were least bothered to resolve the issue.
The officials of the SNGPL have claimed that different teams have been deputed to conduct effective pressure profiling round the clock to adjust pressure at each SMS and TBS.
They added that steps have been afoot to ensure gas supply in the holy month of Ramadan especially for domestic consumers in Peshawar.
