Gas Shortage: Karachi Confronts a Deficit of 480 Million Cubic Meters

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has called upon the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to address the gas shortage and prolonged power outages in Karachi.

In a meeting with Saeed Rizvi, the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Operations of SSGC, MQM-P’s Rabita Committee members Mangla Sharma and Zahid Mansoori expressed deep concerns regarding the persistent gas crisis in Karachi.

Emphasizing the challenges faced by domestic consumers and their heightened anxiety due to the gas shortage, MQM-P urged SSGC to make every possible effort to tackle the issues arising from this crisis.

During the discussion, the DMD Operations of SSGC disclosed that Karachi is currently experiencing a gas shortage of 480 million cubic meters. He revealed that the city is receiving only 720 million cubic meters of gas, falling short of its requirement of 1200 million cubic meters.

The DMD Operations assured that SSGC is actively working to improve the situation. In a related incident on Monday, protesters in Lahore blocked Gurumangat Road to voice their discontent against the gas shortage.

The demonstrators forcibly entered the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) office, breaking the main gate, and expressed their frustration by chanting slogans against the company’s General Manager (GM) for the gas shortage.

Protesters complained about receiving bills from SNGPL without getting the actual gas, forcing them to arrange gas at higher prices for cooking. Following negotiations between the GM of the company and the protesters, assurances were given for the provision of gas.