Punjab is badly hit by gas shortage as gas supply to Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd (SNGPL) has been reduced by 150 million cubic feet. Due to gas scarcity, CNG sector of the province is facing load shedding for three days instead of two and a half days as announced earlier.
According to SNGPL officials, due to short supply the consumers have to bear three days gas load shedding. It has also become difficult for the company to continue uninterrupted gas supply to the industry for five days, they added. However, officials said if there was an improvement in the supply they would try their level best to provide uninterrupted gas to the industry for five days in the province. It may be added that all CNG stations in the province have been shut down from Monday to Wednesday for three days. However officials indicated that there is a possibility of opening of CNG stations on Wednesday after 3 pm if there is an improvement in the supply.
Four regions of Punjab are facing CNG closure from Monday following the gas load management plan. CNG will remain suspended in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sahiwal and Multan regions for three days from Monday to Wednesday. While CNG will remain suspended in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Bahawalpur from Thursday to Saturday.
It is pertinent to mention here that only two days ago on the directions of Dr Asim Hussain, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, it was announced by the SNGPL that they would provide gas to industrial sector five days in a week, whereas the gas curtailment will remain for two days only. Similarly, in the meeting with the representatives of CNG Association it was decided that there would be a gas curtailment for two and a half days instead of three days.