GUJRANWALA, Dec 25: The gas crisis in the Gujranwala region has worsened as the gas supply to about 800 industrial and commercial units have been suspended while the loadshedding at domestic as well as CNG stations is also at its height.

The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) had already issued the schedule of gas shutdown for industrial and commercial units to provide gas to domestic consumers during winter season while the gas supply to around 800 factories have been suspended in Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Hafizabad and Mandi Bahauddin.

But, the company has failed to supply gas to domestic consumers and CNG stations smoothly owing to a wide gap between demand and supply, which has reached 60 per cent.

Both domestic consumers and industrialists have protested against the SNGP and demanded that the gas supply should be restored immediately as they are facing a great deal of inconvenience.

Industrialists feared that they could not meet the foreign orders of quality products if the crises of power and gas supply continued.

When contacted, SNGPL Regional Manager Mehmood Sial said the company was getting the supply between 1,200 and 1,500msf as against the demand of 2,000msf.

Mr Sial said the gas crisis was not only limited to the Gujranwala region, but it had enveloped the whole country. However, he said the company was taking solid steps to improve the gas supply situation for industrial, commercial and domestic consumers.

He appealed to consumers to avoid using heaters during peak hours.

COMMISSIONER SYSTEM: The main purpose of restoring the commissioner system is to establish the writ of the government and to provide its benefits to the people at a grass roots level.

This was stated by Divisional Commissioner Khalid Masood Chaudhry while speaking to a NIPA delegation here on Thursday.

He said since the commissioner system had been restored the discipline in government functionaries was improving while the problems of the people were being resolved swiftly.

The commissioner said Chief Secretary Javed Mahmood had set up his complaint office in Gujranwala for immediate provision of justice to the people. DCO Dr Pervaiz Ahmad Khan and other senior officers were also present.

PEACE CONFERENCE: The peace conference has taken measures to promote religious harmony during Muharram.

The conference was chaired by Regional Police Officer (DIG) Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema while all DPOs, senior police officers, parliamentarians and ulema of different sects participated in it here on Thursday.

The participants extended their full cooperation to police for maintaining the law and order situation during Muharram.

DACOITY: Dacoits looted the house of a trader in Model Town late on Wednesday.