The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has announced an 8-hour gas supply suspension in parts of Karachi, reflecting broader energy challenges as the winter intensifies across Pakistan.
Gas Suspension in Karachi
The gas supply will be interrupted in Karachi’s Peoples Chowrangi area on December 14 from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM on December 15. This temporary suspension is due to the relocation of a 12-inch diameter high-pressure gas pipeline as part of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
Key facilities, including Aga Khan Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital, and Saylani Welfare Trust, will be impacted by this outage. Meanwhile, household gas supply in the area has already been restricted due to profiling measures.
SSGC has emphasized the importance of this pipeline relocation in supporting Karachi’s ongoing infrastructure development efforts.
Hyderabad Faces Severe Gas Shortage
While Karachi grapples with temporary suspensions, Hyderabad is facing a severe gas crisis. Many densely populated areas, including Latifabad and Qasimabad, are experiencing frequent gas cuts and low pressure, particularly from 9 PM to 6 AM.
This shortage has disrupted daily life, leaving residents struggling to prepare meals or heat water. Women are particularly burdened, often resorting to costly alternatives like LPG cylinders or meals from local tandoors.
The crisis has compounded other challenges, such as electricity load-shedding and water shortages. Despite repeated complaints, the situation remains unresolved, with political leaders, including MQM-Pakistan, urging SSGC to take immediate action.
Rawalpindi Struggles Amid Gas Crisis
Rawalpindi is also battling a worsening gas crisis, with 70% of the city’s areas reporting disruptions as temperatures drop.
Neighborhoods such as Chaklala Scheme III, Gulistan Colony, Jamia Masjid Road, and Sadiqabad Khurram Colony are struggling to meet daily needs. Residents face difficulties in cooking meals, and several local tandoors have closed due to the gas shortage.
Parents are distressed as they are forced to send their children to school without breakfast, highlighting the profound impact of these shortages on family life.
Call for Equitable Distribution
The ongoing crisis has raised concerns about inequity in gas distribution, as commercial consumers reportedly continue to receive uninterrupted supply. Citizens and lawmakers are demanding that SSGC prioritize fair allocation to ensure basic needs, particularly for vulnerable communities, are met.
As winter deepens, the need for swift action from both the government and gas authorities has become increasingly urgent.