ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: General Manager of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) Islamabad Region M. Ismael Paracha said on Thursday that gas supply to industrial units and some CNG stations had been terminated to overcome low pressure being faced by domestic consumers.

“We have immediately stopped gas supply to industrial units and some CNG stations in Rawalpindi and Islamabad to cope with complaints of domestic consumers regarding low pressure in some areas of Rawalpindi,” he told this agency.

About reasons of low pressure, he said the shortfall was mainly due to increase in the demand of natural gas during cold weather.

The gas supply in the country is the same for the last three years while its demand has witnessed an upsurge due to mushroom growth of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations, he said.

Mr Paracha, however, said the company, taking notice of the situation, had set up crisis management cell in all its offices in the region where maintenance and emergency teams would be available round the clock to ensure smooth supply of gas.

Seeking cooperation of the consumers, he asked them to avoid excessive use of geysers and gas heaters aimed at ensuring uninterrupted gas supply to domestic users in winter season.

The general manager also asked the consumers to take special care and adopt all precautionary measures while using gas appliances to avoid untoward incidents during winter season.

Gas appliances of good quality should be used and a trained plumber be approached to rectify gas leakage inside homes to avoid any untoward incident, he said.

The general manager advised the people to keep at least one window of a room open while using gas heaters and not to use rubber pipes.

The consumers should desist from using electric fan or exhaust fan in case of gas leakage and keep windows open, he said.

He also asked the consumers to switch off the heater before going to bed to avoid any untoward situation.

To a question, Ismael Paracha said the company had also set up a complaint cell to address complaints regarding gas leakage and theft of natural gas in Islamabad and Rawalpindi region.—APP