GUJAR KHAN: Low gas pressure in the urban and rural areas of Gujar Khan, Kahuta and Kallar Syedan has increased consumers’ dependence on firewood.

The residents of the area have complained that during this winter, low gas pressure had drastically hit their localities and their routine domestic chores.

As the demand for firewood has increased, many people have established several makeshift wood stalls in the city.

Increased dependence on firewood will accelerate deforestation and damage the ‘Clean and Green Pakistan’ campaign, a resident of the area said.

A wood stallholder, Gul Sher Khan, said that he was doing good business this year. He said firewood from Chakwal, Jhelum and Gujar Khan regions were being brought in good quantity and being sold between Rs450 and Rs550 per maund.

Mohammad Sharif, a resident buying wood at a stall, said he had no option but to rely on firewood as gas supply to his locality was almost negligible.

He said without firewood preparing breakfast and other meals was not possible.

Mr Sharif said he had resorted to using a compressor to suck gas but that too proved ineffective as everyone in his neighbourhood was using the device, leaving him with no option but to use firewood.

The residents of Daultala town said their town was in the vicinity of one of the major gas producing oil and gas fields, Ahdi. Even then they were not getting gas.

The residents have threatened to stage protests if this situation persisted.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2019