People braving chill without gas

Rawalpindi:With mercury dropped down to 11 degree Celsius after persistent rain in past two days, the residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad apart from wet conditions have another dilemma at hand. They have to cope with low to zero gas pressure amid chilly weather.

The Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) had been observing around 20 hours of gas loadshedding but since Sunday night and families are unable to burn stoves or heaters. “The situation is very critical and nobody on part of the government has taken notice of the situation,” said a disgruntled, Bashir Ahmed.

Saima Qureshi said that we are facing a lots of difficulties in cooking and heating our homes these days. “Since the start of rains, the zero gas pressure has added to our problems, said Zahid Raja, a resident of Muslim Town.

“The gas pressure is zero in the morning and evening and as a result we have to go to hotels and ‘tandoors’ to get cooked food which is quite expensive,” Bilal Khan, a poor man said. He said that concerned officials of the government had time and again assured for smooth supply of natural gas to the domestic consumers but the problem persists and there seems to be no end to it.

On the other hand Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) dealers are taking full advantage of the situation and looting public with both hands in absence of natural gas. The wood cutters are also taking undue advantage of the situation and selling 40-kilogram dry wood at Rs550-Rs600 and 1-kilogram coal at Rs70. One-litre kerosene oil is already selling at Rs105-Rs110.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, cold weather is expected in most parts of the country. However, rain-thunderstorm coupled with snowfall is expected over the hills in coming days.

Pakistan Meteorological Department Director Dr. Muhammad Hanif said that rain spell will continue today (Wednesday) as well. He said that temperature in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad will drop further in coming days.