KOHAT: A large number of people, including women, demonstrated on Monday to protest low gas pressure and excessive power loadshedding.

A number of women gathered at the Tehsil Gate and marched towards the Peshawar Chowk, chanting slogans against the SNGPL and the district administration for not resolving the problem of low gas pressure, particularly at the peak hours.

The protesters said they could not cook food in low gas pressure, and had to order lunch and dinner from hotels.

Residents of Bahalwanagar, Shah Abad, the city, Jungle Khel, Garden Colony, Mian Khel, Main Bazaar, Shah Pur and Pir Abdullah Shah Mohallah also complained about low gas pressure.

Senior vice president of bazaar union, Azmat Bangash, said the people had been forced to use electric geysers and heaters which was an extra burden on them.

SNGPL’s customer service in-charge Rizwanullah Khattak told Dawn on contact that the first reason of low gas pressure was intense cold which had turned gas into ice inside the pipes. Secondly, he said the problem had aggravated due to narrow diametre pipes. He said they could not increase pressure because doing so might cause the pipes to burst.

Mr Khattak, however, said the SNGPL higher-ups would be requested to send a team to check various points where the pressure was low and then give permission for increasing the pressure.

FACILITATION DESK: The district administration on Monday inaugurated an overseas facilitation desk to resolve the problems facing the families of those working abroad.

Deputy commissioner Matiullah Khan opened the desk at the office of additional deputy commissioner.

On the occasion, he said the overseas Pakistanis could now submit an application for resolution of any problem to the office of the additional deputy commissioner, which would be processed within the stipulated time and sent to the deputy commissioner’s office for necessary action.

SHELTER HOME: A shelter home became operational on Sunday night after it was inaugurated a few days back by commissioner Abdul Jabbar. He had directed the deputy commissioner to make it functional at the earliest.

Tehsildar Mohammad Shoeb was tasked with engaging Karwan-i-Ammal, an NGO, for provision of free food at the shelter home.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2019