WITH fall in mercury in winter, the gas shortage has assumed serious dimensions forcing consumers to come on roads to air their grievances over apathy of the authorities concerned to address the crisis. The situation is not improving despite decision of the Government to suspend supply to CNG stations, which has its own repercussions for the economy, and consumers in different parts of the country are finding it difficult to prepare food due to low pressure or total absence of gas.
The massive shortfall of gas has compelled the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to curtail the supply to sectors other than domestic consumers but the crisis persists despite suspension of supplies to fertilizer factories and other industries. One fails to understand why the Government did not take timely measures to avert the crisis when solutions were available as was done during tenure of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who publicly announced that every segment of consumers was free to take as much gas as it needs because of improved supplies. The policy and strategy adopted to overcome the shortage was there but strangely enough the incumbent government slept over the issue for unknown reasons. The situation becomes all the more unbearable for masses as the entire focus remains on jacking up prices and no serious efforts are being made to ensure even kitchen requirements of the people. As domestic gas production is on the decline, the Government should have initiated timely measures to import LNG in required quantities to avert the crisis. Gas demand is increasing rapidly because of higher consumption in almost all the major sectors particularly power, domestic, fertiliser, captive power and industry but the supplies were not keeping pace with higher demand. Apart from imports, the Government had the option to take firm measures to check widespread theft of gas especially in KP where half of the total volume of the gas being produced in KP (400MMCFD) is being stolen as a matter of right. Would the Government act to check it or continue with its policy of burdening the metered consumers further?
