MINGORA: Residents of different areas of Mingora and Saidu Sharif along with local government representatives on Monday demonstrated against the gas loadshedding and low pressure.

Talking to reporters on the occasion, they said with the start of winter the SNGPL had resorted to gas suspension to the domestic consumers due to which they faced hardships.

The protesters holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the SNGPL marched from Mingora town towards the company’s office in Fizagat.

They blocked the Fizagat road and then surrounded the SNGPL office and demanded proper gas supply to the consumers.

“Supply of natural gas has remained suspended to the majority of areas in Swat since the start of winter. And if the supply is restored pressure remains too low to cook food,” said district councillor Shaukat Ali Khan, who was leading the protest.

The protesters said due to gas outages people were forced to purchase food and other items from bazaar. They said Swat valley faced harsh winter and people needed smooth gas supply, but the SNGPL always treated them indifferently.

The protesters also questioned the slapping of GST in the utility bills and said Malakand division was a tax-free zone and imposition of any tax was illegal.

“Malakand division, including Swat district, has been exempted from taxes legally but SNGPL violates laws by imposing GST in the bills,” said Shaukat Ali Khan, another district councillor. Later, officials of SNGPL met the protesters and assured them to resolve the issue immediately.

MPA Fazal Hakim, who is also the district development advisory committee chairman, said he had conveyed the concerns of Swat people regarding the low pressure to the SNGPL general manager.

“I met SNGPL head today (Monday) and asked him to ensure smooth gas supply to domestic consumers in the winter season, and he assured me to resolve the issue,” said Mr Hakim, adding the main pipeline to Swat district was being improved after which the low pressure issue would permanently be resolved.

Published in Dawn, December 05th, 2017