Low pressure of gas in the city continued for the second day. Despite tall claims of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), acute shortage of gas has paralysed the routine life of the people in various areas of the city. Unavailability of gas on Thursday forced the people to take to streets. The angry protesters disrupted traffic and chanted slogans against the government and SNGPL.
According to the survey conducted by Business Recorder the residents of the areas of Sabzar on Multan Road, Township, Thokker Niaz Baig, Icchra, Canal View, Johar Town, Township, Green Town, Faisal Town, WAPDA Town, Garden Town and Gulshane Ravi, Cantt and Defence complained about the low pressure saying that they could not even cook food due to low pressure of gas.
General Manager Sales SNGPL, Rehan Nawaz while talking to Business Recorder said that areas mostly located on the tail were facing low pressure. He also said that due to change in weather domestic users in Lahore started using gas heaters, which increased the demand. He said regular supply of gas to industries, as per the instruction of the Prime Minister has increased the demand of gas in Punjab. He said that SNGPL have 2025 mmcfd of gas in their system while their demand is 2500 mmcfd. He said that there was a shortfall of 500 mmcfd.
While talking to Business Recorder Usman a resident of Icchra said that despite the recent claims of the government gas supply to domestic user would be the priority of the government. 'We are being ignored and nobody listens to our complaints," Usman said. Some people were of the view that they were getting low pressure of gas during start of winter then what would happen in the peak season.
On Thursday most of the consumers mostly women and children while talking to Business Recorder complained that gas loadshedding had multiplied their miseries. They said that they had to wait for hours for gas supply to cook food. One of the residents of Mozag said that from 6am to 11am daily, there had been no gas at my house. Shopkeepers and restaurant owners on Ferozepur Road said that due to low pressure they were bearing huge losses.