THROUGH the decades, natural gas has been considered an eco-friendly fuel and is being used across the country as such ever since its discovery. Nevertheless, apart from other extraneous factors, ill-planning by the relevant authorities and massive line-losses, this benign natural wealth has been frittered away owing to sheer misuse.

Now when the masses are already feeling the pinch in the shape of shortage of various kitchen items, apart from rising petroleum prices and skyrocketing utility bills, the government is said to be planning to reduce the supply of gas to residential sector to certain time slots.

Such a move will add further woes to the predicament already created by the soaring inflation and the resultant squeezed purchasing power of the masses.

The previous governments used to accord due priority to residential use of gas whenever the country faced a supply crunch. The practice needs to continue.

M.Y. Ehsan Ullah
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2021