Daily Times

KARACHI: The five-day-long agony of commuters traveling on public transport in Karachi and elsewhere in parts of Sindh would end today (Saturday) as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations will be reopened across the province after an assurance by the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to restore gas supply.

The decision was the outcome of a meeting between Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan with SSGC officials.

The gas utility officials assured the minister of restoration of gas supply to CNG stations across Sindh, including Karachi. Ghulam Sarwar said that the step of SSGC would provide relief to CNG users, especially commuters of public transport.

The SSGC had announced earlier this week it was suspending gas supply to CNG stations and captive power plants of all general industries for an indefinite period due to shortage of gas and low pressure in the system.

The SSGC spokesperson, however, had assured that all household consumers would receive gas at all cost.

The development came after fixing technical faults at Kunnar Pasakhi gas field in Balochistan and Gambat gas field in Sindh. The shortfall was estimated at over 150 million cubic feet per day.

In this connection Prime Minister Imran Khan had warned those responsible for gas crisis and also directed the gas authority to resolve the issue at the earliest.

He also ordered removal of board of directors of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and SSGC over the crisis.

A spokesperson for SSGC Friday said that there was a possibility of improvement in gas supply with 24 hours.

According to SSGC spokesperson, “Gas supply from fields has become better with supply improving in next 24 hours. A spokesman for CNG owners association expressed satisfaction over normalising natural gas supply to filling stations.

Moreover, Chairman of CNG Association Ghayas Paracha said that CNG stations would hopefully resume selling CNG by Saturday afternoon subject to maturity of SSGC’s official promise.

Meanwhile, commuters of Karachi and in parts of Sindh remained in lurk for public transport on Friday.

Only a scattered number of buses were seen on roads as transporters continued their strike against suspension of gas supply to filling stations.

Published in Daily Times, December 15^th 2018.