THIS is apropos the report that the shortage of gas will double next year (Jan 9). In the colder regions of the country, people are cutting down trees for firewood because of the gas shortage.

The consumption of CNG by transporters has aggravated this shortage. A bus or taxi consumes more gas in a day than domestic consumers do in a month.

Forty years ago, there were no CNG filling stations and all vehicles would run on petrol or diesel.

Priority should be given to households for cooking and heating in this harsh winter. The supply to CNG stations should be discontinued till we have sufficient gas available.

Since no new gas reserves have been discovered during the last 10 years, the government must make arrangements for gas exploration so that new reserves may be discovered. Production from the present sources should also be stepped up.

Samina Asif

Karachi

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2020