TAXILA: The residents in Taxila, Wah and Pindigheb started facing unannounced gas loadshedding and low pressure with the start of the holy month of Ramazan.

Despite announcements by authorities concerned about uninterrupted gas supply at Sehr and Iftar, people faced hardships preparing Sehri and Iftar due to gas outages.

Areas affected by unannounced loadshedding included Pind Gondal, Jameelabad, Muneerabad, Asifabad, Chachi Mohalla and Nawababad in Taxila. Areas in Wah included Khoar, Pindigheb city and adjoining neighbourhoods.

Although Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) had assured consumers that they would be provided gas at Sehr and Iftar, the company cited a shortfall in its system because of a yearly 8-9pc decline in the country’s gas reserves.

Talking to Dawn, consumers from different areas of Taxila, Wah and Attock protested against the absence of electricity and natural gas for domestic use.

They lamented government inaction and lack of basic services.

“The public is facing hardships but those in power are fighting for nothing,” the residents said.

People in several localities of Taxila and Wah complained of substantial gas pressure reduction as well as unannounced power cuts.

Aksar Awan, a resident of Munirabad, said when he called the gas company’s helpline to complain about the absence of gas, he was told that it was due to high demand. He said the government had announced that the uninterrupted supply of gas would continue during Ramazan.

“Now, we are in a situation where households with children and patients face severe difficulties in cooking food due to the absence of gas,” he lamented.

Another citizen, Ali Khan, a resident of Pind Gondal, also expressed serious concerns over low gas pressure and demanded the government ensure proper gas supply so that people do not face any problems during the holy month. In some areas, such as Chachi Mohallah and Darbar Kareemi, gas was supplied during peak hours but the pressure remained low.

“We just can’t cook food unless we use a gas suction device,” said a resident Kinza Saleem.

Asma Rani, a resident of Nawababad, said that no gas was being supplied to her locality before Sehri and Iftar despite assurance from the gas utility.

“How can we prepare Sehri and Iftar without gas?” she asked and said LPG cylinders were the only options left with people.

Former Punjab Assembly member from Wah Prof Waqas Khan said that towering claims were made about gas supply but the SNGPL failed on the first day of the holy month.

He urged the government and the gas company to take notice of the issue and resolve it immediately.

When contacted, sources in the SNGPL said the poor distribution system of the gas utility was also adding to the misery of people as the gas pressure could not be maintained during the peak hours.

An official said the company had not resorted to loadshedding anywhere in the country, but pointed out that certain areas may face low pressure, partly because around half a million stoves are turned on at the same time ahead of Sehri in the area.

“Thus, old lines of gas may face low pressure,” he added. He said the company was giving priority to domestic consumers under the special directives of the federal government and promised that the situation would improve in the coming days.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2025