Islamabad: Several areas of Pakistan’s Karachi remained without gas supply on Monday, while other parts of the city continued to receive gas at very low pressure, local media reported on Tuesday. Residents said the ongoing winter has once again exposed failures in the gas distribution system. For the past four days, many households have struggled to cook or stay warm, forcing families to rely on expensive LPG cylinders, further adding to their financial burden.
Residents Angry, Utility Accused of Repeated Failures
People across Karachi expressed frustration over what they described as an annual crisis. “How long will Karachi tolerate a utility that can’t secure its own supply?” Dawn quoted a housewife from Gulistan-i-Jauhar as saying. A resident of Nazimabad said that citizens suffer every winter while authorities repeat the same explanations. “Until the company is held accountable, infrastructure is upgraded, and the government stops turning a blind eye, Karachi’s residents will remain hostages of a broken system,” she added.
Supply Cuts, Protests in Quetta and Other Regions
The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) said gas supply from two fields had dropped by about 45 million cubic feet per day, affecting several areas of Karachi. A spokesperson said steps were being taken to manage the situation.
Meanwhile, similar shortages have triggered protests in Balochistan. Last week, residents in Quetta blocked roads and burned tyres over prolonged gas outages during extreme cold. Gas loadshedding has been imposed from midnight to 5 a.m., though many areas report low pressure even outside these hours. Regions including Kalat, Mastung, Ziarat and Pishin have also been hit, with temperatures dropping to minus five degrees in some parts, worsening the crisis.