MULTAN: Irritated by prolonged and unscheduled gas outage, residents of various city localities protested against the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) here on Monday.

Protesters including women and children took to streets and staged demonstrations in Manzoorabad, Hasanabad, Qazafi Chowk and Piran Ghaib localities against gas shortage.

They shouted slogans against government and SNGPL officials, burnt used tyres and blocked roads, causing severe traffic jams in these localities.

Those leading the demos strongly condemned government for suspending gas supply in such a harshly cold weather and demanded immediate restoration of supply.

They also warned of blockades on major roads of the city and besieging gas offices, if the supply was not restored.

CHINIOT: Gas outages, combined with increase in the prices of alternative sources like Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and firewood prompted consumers to stage protest demos against the government and the SNGPL here on Monday.

People from various gas-starved localities of the city reached the SNGPL Customer Service Centre in a procession to record their protest over the situation.

They said the dropping mercury and dense fog added to their, especially during the last two days. They said the gas is supplied to their localities only in the wee hours or between 10am and 11am.

The situation has increased the demand of LPG cylinders and firewood. The LPG cylinders were in short supply.

Sources said that the recent police crackdown on gas outlets involved in illegal decanting had sent most of owners underground, causing LPG shortage.

Meanwhile, the price of firewood has increased to Rs900 per 40kg and that too is moist, making it hard to burn.

One of the protesters, Ghulam Dastagir, from Ghafoorabad said the locality was without gas supply for the last two days. “The rich could buy food from hotels but where the working class should go in the absence of gas?” he asked.

Another, Mohammad Ali, of Gulsitan Colony, said the locality had no gas for the last one week, while Mujahid Ali from Thatti Mochian, Rajoa Road, also expressed similar views. The protesters demanded restoration of gas supply to their localities.

Mujtaba Husain, in charge of the Customer Service Centre, said gas shortages were being experienced in many cities including Faisalabad, Sargodha, Multan and Lahore etc.

He said blowing up of some gas pipelines in Sui had disrupted the supply, causing gas shortage. He said repair work was underway and would be completed soon.

OKARA: Hundreds of men and women protested separately in front of the Okara Press Club (OPC) and the local SNGPL office, respectively, against gas shortages here on Monday.

The protesters said they had been facing gas shortage for the last four weeks, but it turned acute for the last 48 hours. They said because of the shortage they had no other option but to buy food from eateries which was costly and unhygienic.

Long queues were witnessed in front of tandoors (ovens) for roti (bread) and naan which were being sold at higher rates.

The rates of firewood have suddenly jumped to Rs650 per 40kg from Rs500.

SNGPL Regional Manager Muhammad Ejaz at Sahiwal told our correspondent in a telephonic conversation the shortage was caused on account of blowing up of 16 inch pipeline supplying gas from Balochistan to Punjab.

He said after the repair of pipeline gas would only be supplied to domestic consumers.

GUJRANWALA: A large number of people from across the city protested against suspension of gas supply for the last few days and shouted slogans against the government and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) on Monday.

There is no gas supply in Dhully, Garjakh, Fareed Town, Satellite Town, Model Town, Bakhtywala, Ratta Bajwa, Popular Nursery, Qilla Chand, Shaheenabad and other areas of the city since last week.

Some protesters from Dhully and Baghbanpura gathered outside the SNGPL office and protested by setting tyres on fire and blocked the road. They were carrying stoves and uncooked chapattis in their hands.

Talking to the media, Shahida Bibi, Shahbaz, Samina, Shama Khalid and Mehmood said suspension of gas supply had disrupted their lives. They added they were forced to use LPG, wood or purchase cooked food, which was often costly. They claimed owners of hotels and tandoors had increased prices and decreased the weight of bread.

Fehmida Bibi of Satellite Town said the government had failed to provide basic facilities to the masses as per their commitments and suspension of gas and electricity in winter was an example. She said they had informed SNGPL authorities time and again but no one bothered to resolve their issue.

Other protesters said there was no gas for many days, while LPG dealers charged Rs200 per kilogramme.

The protesters demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi look into the matter and order authorities concerned to provide gas for domestic consumers.

An SNGPL spokesman claimed there was a shortfall of 40mcf of gas, while after attacks on pipelines in Balochistan the situation had worsened. The spokesman said efforts were being made to provide maximum gas to domestic consumers.

FAISALABAD: Dozens of people staged a protest demonstration on Jhang Road against the suspension of gas supply to their localities.

Carrying utensils, residents of Lakar Mandi and Partab Nagar turned up on the Jhang Road and blocked traffic for about half-an-hour by burning used tyres and chanting slogans against the government.

Talking to reporters, the protesters said gas closure had made their life miserable and they could not get supply at breakfast and other meal timings.

They said the eateries owners were cashing in on the situation by increasing rates of roti (bread) and other food items.

They added that alternatives for gas including firewood and LPG was also not easily available and their prices had increased.

After registering their protest, the protesters dispersed peacefully.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2014