AFTER issuing warning after warning to consumers for the last several months, the Government on Thursday tried to console at least domestic and industrial consumers of gas by declaring that they would get the supply uninterrupted during winter. The Cabinet Committee on Energy, which met with Federal Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umar in the chair, decided that despite pressure on the system, domestic and export-oriented industrial sectors would face no disruption in the supply of gas.
It is understood that gas consumption increases manifolds during winter resulting in low pressure and forcing the authorities to opt for load-management but it is the responsibility of the Government to take measures to mitigate sufferings of the people. We have been emphasizing in these columns that instead of sensitizing people about impending shortage, the authorities concerned should firm up arrangements to increase supply of gas as the precedent existed when the previous government was able to meet requirements of all consumers throughout the year including winter. Domestic consumers must get priority as the majority of them cannot afford LPG, the rates of which go up alarmingly during winter. Load-management is a temporary solution and long term planning is essential to get rid of the menace of gas shortage.