On the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, people in various parts of Pakistan faced gas shortages, exacerbating the woes of consumers already grappling with soaring inflation.
Despite government assurances of uninterrupted gas supply for Sehri and Iftar, Karachi was the worst affected, with residents in Rawalpindi and Quetta also reporting low pressure and no gas throughout the day.
As Karachi residents prepared to observe the first fast of Ramadan on Thursday, reports suggest that misery mounted for those living in North Nazimabad, New Karachi, Nagin Chowrangi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and other parts of the city, as they struggled to find sufficient gas to light their stoves. Angry protestors blocked a main road at Golimar, causing traffic congestion and shouting angry slogans.
Imran Rao, a resident of Gulshan-e-Hadeed, located in the eastern part of the city, expressed to Arab News that the low gas pressure was insufficient for him to cook food.
Meanwhile, residents in Rawalpindi were reportedly forced to purchase food from the market for Sehri due to the unavailability of gas. Gas pressure dropped sharply from 2am to 4am, according to residents.
The most affected areas included Media Town, Shah Khalid Colony, Gulzar-i-Quaid, Airport Housing Society, Chaklala Scheme-III, and Nayyar Colony.
Sarmad Ahmed, a Media Town resident, stated that the stove did not light due to low gas pressure during Sehri. He added that the situation was worse in his area, as gas pressure in adjoining areas such as Bahria Town and Police Foundation was better.
Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) cited a shortfall in its system due to a yearly 8-9% decline in the country’s gas reserves, which prompted the company to implement “gas profiling” during Ramadan.
According to the official statement from SSGC, the gas profiling will continue from 8 am to 2:30 pm to guarantee better gas pressure.
The company, however, assured the public of gas supply during Sehri and Iftar.
Some residents complained that they had no gas for nearly four months, and low-wage earners struggled to afford additional gas costs as the price of a 2.5 kg gas cylinder had risen to Rs600, which lasted for almost two weeks.
An SSGC spokesperson denied load shedding but noted that certain areas might experience low pressure due to a large number of stoves being used at the same time for Sehri.
