SWABI: Consumers across the district here on Friday complained about low gas pressure in the early morning and evening hours and rising prices of firewood used for cooking food, saying it was difficult for them to cope with the situation.

They said that these days the children were enjoying winter holidays, but after a few days they would be going to schools and making breakfast for them would be impossible if the problem of low gas pressure was not resolved.

The residents said that the average price of firewood had jumped from Rs500 per 50kg to Rs750 per 50kg as there was no check on the traders who had been fleecing the buyers.

“We are compelled by the situation to buy firewood from the local market even at high price,” said Gul Wali Khan of Shagai village.

Mohammad Farooq of Palodand village said that low gas pressure at the breakfast time and during evening hours had become a big problem.

The consumers said that SNGPL had failed to ensure smooth gas supply to them in winter, but the gas price continued to rise.

They said that in fact it was the responsibility of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government to keep the prices in check and ensure smooth supply of gas to the consumers.

When contacted, an SNGPL official said that the country had been facing great shortfall of gas.

LABOUR RIGHTS: Leaders of Pakistan Workers Federation here on Friday vowed to continue their struggle for rights of the workers and said that industrialists should follow the national and international laws in this regard.

PWF national coordinator Shaukat Ali Anjum and other leaders said at a gathering that the government should take steps for implementing labour laws.

He said that some of the employers had not yet implemented the minimum wage and the government had failed to take any action in this regard.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2019