Daily Times

Residents of the metropolis faced problems while commuting in the city since public transport services remained suspended due to closure of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations.

All public transport services remained suspended on Thursday as the CNG crisis entered its fifth-day. Meanwhile, private public transporters continued their strike for the second consecutive day to protest the suspension of gas supply to CNG stations. Traders and CNG association warned that they would stage a sit-in if the government did not meet their demands.

On Tuesday night, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Sindh and Balochistan chapter announced suspension of gas supply to CNG stations and captive power plants of private industries. SSGC said that it was facing acute shortage of gas and low pressure in system, which was affecting adequate supply to domestic and commercial consumers. “Our first priority is to provide gas to households,” an SSGC official said.

Many of the industrial units operating in SITE and other industrial areas have also reported gas shortage, which has reduced their production capacity. Stakeholders have urged Sindh as well as federal government to take urgent stock of situation and ensure that situation does not get aggravated.

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Wednesday ordered constitution of a fact-finding committee for an inquiry against managing directors (MDs) of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and SSGC over prevailing gas shortfall in the country. Imran Khan was briefed by officials that two companies demonstrated incompetence and withheld information on demand and supply of gas.

The committee is headed by Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) chairperson Uzma Adil Khan and comprises of Qazi Saleem Siddiqui, Shahid Yousaf and Imran Ahmed.

However, SSGC spokesman informed that steps were underway to remove technical faults of Gambat and Kunnar Pasakhi Gas Fields that resulted in a shortfall of more than 150 million (m) cubic meters per day. “Supply would be restored after improvements are made to the system to control the low gas pressure,” informed the spokesman.

Published in Daily Times, December 14^th 2018.