The Sui-gas pressure was remained very low during morning and evening hours, making difficulties in preparing meal and other food stuff. Similarly, the barkers, confectioners were also commonly affected in most localities in city area and suburbs villages of Peshawar. A substantial increase in prices of fire-woods was also witnessed due to low supply of natural gas.
A total gas generation capacity is around 124,853 million metric cubic feet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, despite the gas supply were usually low in winter. With chilly weather, the demand for the natural gas was increased at domestic and commercial level as well. "We have been facing problem of low gas pressure for the last two weeks. We have lodged complains with the relevant department several times but to no avail," said Wahida Bano, a resident of Landi Arbab, outskirts village of Peshawar.
After heavy downpour in provincial metropolis, the domestic and commercial consumers perturbed due to low pressure of gas as demand was increased in the chilly weather. While contacted, SNGPL General Manager Haroon Khan that the authority had making its best to supply gas in a smooth way despite the cold weather in the provincial metropolis.
"We had received complaints both domestic and commercial consumers," he admitted, adding the authority was taken prompt action to resolve the problems of low gas pressure city and suburbs areas of Peshawar.
The SNGPL GM said the situation wasn't persisted in Peshawar like consumers facing in twin cities of Islamabad-Rawalpindi. He informed that the province had produced surplus gas against its actual consumption. "We are handling issue in a better way and would take appropriate steps to ensure smooth supply to both domestic and commercial consumers," he claimed.
Regarding the illegal connection in suburbs village of Peshawar including Peshtakhara, Kaga Wala, Badhabera and Phando area, he informed, the authority had carried out crackdown in all such localities and disconnected supply to thefts with imposing huge penalties.
The authority, he informed, had also held an awareness drive for taking measure to save natural gas but consumers were not following their guidance in this regard, which ultimately caused shortage of gas. When asked about closure of certain CNG stations in the city and other areas, he replied that the refilling station had closed for few weeks in best interest of public, which re-opened in the light of Peshawar High Court verdict.