SWABI: Domestic gas consumers in the district have complained the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited is issuing them inflated bills despite the excessive gas outages.

They criticised the SNGPL for suspending gas supply to them during peak hours and said they should be preferred to filling stations in the morning and evening to ease the misery of women making food.

The consumers also complained about the non-existence of SNGPL office in the district and said they’d to cover long distance for the correction of inflated bills in Mardan.

Ishtiaq Khan of Panjpir village said it usually took several days to get the wrong bills corrected to the people’s misery.

Shamasur Rehman, a guard at Tarbela dam powerhouse, said usually, his gas bill valued less than Rs1,000 but that time around, it was Rs14,000 to his distress.

Ihsan Khan of Topi city said his family had five members, who didn’t use gas heater or geezer, but even then, he got the Rs10,000 gas bill in the current month.

The people also complained that sellers had increased the firewood price in light of the higher demand caused by the excessive gas outages.

They said they’re struggling to buy firewood with the availability of limited income for budget.

The people also said the cold and foggy conditions had increased the incidence of health problems during the last few days.

They insisted the current prolonged cold spell was unprecedented.

“The cold weather has brought life to a standstill across Swabi district. I prefer to stay indoors to keep myself from being unwell,” said 74-year-old Rahim Dad Khan of Maneri Bala.

Abdul Karim, a teacher at a private school, said many of his students had fallen ill due to the cold weather and thus, prompting their absence from school.

A physician, Dr Mohammad Shafiq, said the people, especially the elderly and children, should take precautionary measures against cold-related diseases.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2016