Islamabad (Ehsaan Bukhari ) :
In a startling revelation, it has been alleged that Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) is deliberately reducing gas pressure across the country in alleged collusion with LNG and LPG companies. Reports have emerged from across Pakistan that households are facing severe gas shortages or extremely low gas pressure, forcing school-going children and office workers to leave home without breakfast, or resort to buying gas cylinders.
A majority of citizens have now turned to using LPG gas cylinders, and even restaurants have been compelled to rely on them for cooking. This situation came to light when residents of the Jhamrah area in Rawalpindi caught a man in the act of turning off their gas supply. Upon confrontation, he revealed that he was following orders from senior officials to shut down the supply.
Speaking to the media, the residents said the gas is routinely cut off around 1 PM daily, leaving them without cooking fuel. When contacted, an SNGPL officer, Asif, confirmed the individual was indeed on duty but avoided commenting on the gas shutoff orders.
The residents claimed that SNGPL has pushed them towards buying gas cylinders by deliberately disrupting piped gas supply. They also alleged that the General Manager (GM) of SNGPL Rawalpindi is involved with gas cylinder-selling companies and is intentionally cutting off gas supply to benefit these businesses.
Interestingly, the gas pressure remains stable in VIP sectors of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, while densely populated and lower-income areas such as Banni, Asghar Mall, Mohanpura, Arjun Nagar, Kashmiri Bazaar, and Railway Scheme 3 face continuous gas shortages.
Residents further claimed that SNGPL is intentionally manipulating gas supply to favor the LPG cylinder market. When Islamabad’s GM, Adnan, was contacted, he claimed ignorance and said he would investigate. Meanwhile, the GM of Rawalpindi did not respond to calls.
Regarding the man who was caught cutting off gas, it was later discovered at the RA Bazaar police post that he was not a direct SNGPL employee but the father of a driver working in the department. He claimed he acted on the orders of higher officials and promised not to do it again. The police have filed a preliminary report but settled the matter informally for now.
