RAWALPINDI: After the restoration of gas supply to the CNG filling stations in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the local residents have again started facing a very low gas pressure.

The Sui Northern Gas pipelines (SNGPL) shut the supply to the filling stations on December 27 and restored it on January 5.

“We receive gas only from 1am to 5am and as a result women can cook food in the night. We have to go to work without breakfast,” said Nasir Mir, the PPP city spokesman, who lives in Dhoke Ratta.

He said the PML-N had claimed to end power and gas loadshedding but still electricity was not available for three to four hours daily and gas throughout the day.

“Women have to spend sleepless nights waiting for natural gas so they can cook meal for their families. In residential areas of Dhoke Hassu, Dhoke Ratta, Babu Lal Hussain Road, Mohanpura and Naya Mohallah, the residents cannot afford LPG cylinders.”

He said the PML-N local leaders launched a project to lay an additional line at Banni Chowk but it was only for Satellite Town. “The problem will be solved when an additional line is laid from I.J. Principal Road via Dhoke Hafiz,” he said, adding the project had been approved but no work started as it would not benefit the ruling PML-N.

Mohammad Akhter, a resident of Mohanpura, said mostly people had installed gas compressors in their houses. “Those who cannot afford installing the compressors have to use coal and firewood to prepare meals,” he said.

“For nine days, the gas pressure remained good but after opening the CNG filling stations it decreased again,” he said.

“We are using wood to cook food or prepare tea for the breakfast,” said Mohammad Raffique of Bilal Colony near Lalazar-II.

He said for the last nine days gas remained available from midnight to 5am.

Mohammad Shafique, a resident of Nayar Colony near Chaklala Scheme-III, said the low gas pressure had affected routine life of the residents.

He said the unavailability of electricity and gas in the chilly weather had created hardship for the residents. “My two children are suffering from cold and flu as they have to wash their hands with cold water for over three days,” he said.

An official of the SNGPL told Dawn that after the cold wave the use of natural gas had increased creating a gap between supply and demand.

However, he admitted that the restoration of gas supply to CNG stations had affected the domestic consumers. “There are no separate lines for CNG stations and they are being provided gas from the same lines,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2018