Govt assures the resumption of gas supply to CNG stations’ in Karachi

A CNG station along the MA Jinnah road was also impacted due to a lack of fuel for the sixth consecutive day on Friday. (AN photo)

A CNG station near the Karachi Press Club wears a deserted look after gas supply to fuel stations and industrial units was discontinued for the sixth consecutive day on Friday. (AN photo)

A CNG station near Mazar-e-Quid ran on empty following a gas supply issue. (AN photo)

Muhammad Naeem, an autorickshaw driver, keeps a spare can for extra fuel. Drivers across the city lamented the loss to their businesses due to the lack of fuel for nearly a week on Friday. (AN photo)

Muhammad Ajmal, an autorickshaw driver, told Arab News on Friday that he had returned to work after four days but couldn’t make any money as the gas supply issue continued at fuel stations across the city for the sixth consecutive day. (AN photo)

Pakistan Peoples Party's Karachi wing held demonstrations in front of the Karachi Press Club on Friday to protest against the lack of fuel in the city. (AN photo)

• Experts say lack of coordination, planning and mismanagement in high demanding season is main reason of crisis
• The ruling party of Sindh, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), held a protest demo against the lack of gas supply

KARACHI: The federal minister for petroleum and energy, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, has assured us that the Gas supply to CNG stations across Sindh province will be restored by Saturday and we are hoping that the government will keep its promise, Chairman Petroleum and CNG Association, Shabir Sulemanji, told Arab News on Friday.
“We have been assured that the CNG supply will be restored by tomorrow,” said Sulemanji after meeting with minister, however, the Spokesperson the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Muhammad Ali Gohar, told Arab News; “Restoration is likely but we have no official confirmation yet.”
“Efforts are afoot to restore the supply of gas to fuel stations and industrial units,” Gohar said.
Both federal minister for petroleum and energy Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Federal Minister for Power Omar Ayub flew into Karachi on Friday to meet chief minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, and leaders of CNG association.
Rasheed Channa, spokesman of CM House, said Chief Minister Sindh informed federal ministers of the losses due to closure of industrial units.
“CM Sindh also told them that transport has come to a standstill whereas it has become difficult for the people to commute,” he quoted CM as saying, adding the provincial chief executive also demanded representation of the Sindh at the boards of directors of the gas companies. The federal government has dissolved the boards, blaming members of the boards for the ongoing energy crisis.
According to Channa, petroleum minister has assured Chief minister of briefing PM Imran Khan about the situation. As the representatives of the federal government were meeting with Chief Minister, his party’s Karachi chapter staged a protest demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club.
Sulemanji says the closure of Gas for six days has caused a loss of billions to the CNG owners across the Sindh. However, the industries and owners of the gas stations are not the only affectees of gas crisis.
“I could not take out my Rickshaw for the last five days due to closure of the fuel stations,” Muhammad Amjal, an auto rickshaw driver in his forties, told Arab News while he was waiting for passenger at Mazar-e-Quid, Karachi.
“I earn Rs1,000 by spending CNG of RS300 during a day. However, Today, as I took out my Rikshaw after four days break, I put in petrol of Rs400 and earned RS400, meaning I drove the Rikshaw half of the day for nothing,” Amjal said.
Zain Ali, who works at private office, says his car, which has CNG-only-facility, is standing at home for last one week and he is using two-wheeler for commuting to office. “The closure of Public transport has affected the life of many and my colleague using public transport are unable to attend office,” Ali told Arab News.
Spokesperson of the SSGC says the supply was halted due to maintenances issues at Gambat Gas Field.
However, experts say the problem is owing to lack of coordination and mismanagement.
“Its difficult to quantify the loss at this moment but the closure of CNG has certainly resulted in huge losses besides exposing the lack of coordination and management issues in government departments,” Samiullah Tariq, a Karachi based energy expert, told Arab News.
The situation at production field was indeed out of control of the distribution companies, including the SSGC but one can’t give them complete waiver of responsibility as the failure of compressors in high demand season and not forecasting the high demand is all exposing authorities at power supply companies and relevant government ministries, Tariq said.
Tariq also questioned the government’s decision to dissolve the boards, saying although it was prerogative of the current regime to remove the board appointed by previous regime but the timing may not be right and may add to the problem.
“Besides, the CNG fuelling stations and commuters, the six-day long closure has also caused loss to industry,” Tariq opined.