Karachi Endures Second Consecutive Week of Chaotic Gas Outages
For the second week running, unannounced gas supply disruptions have plunged daily life into turmoil across Karachi, Pakistan's largest city. The sudden outages have forced countless families to queue for essential items like roti and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), while drawing sharp condemnation from political figures. Meanwhile, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has firmly denied any significant lapses in its service delivery.
Citizens Grapple with Unpredictable Load-Shedding
The Sui Southern Gas Company stands accused of failing to maintain its publicly stated schedule of uninterrupted supply from 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM. Residents across multiple neighborhoods report experiencing frequent, unscheduled load-shedding with minimal or zero advance warning. This unpredictability has compelled households to urgently seek alternative arrangements for cooking and other domestic needs.
With gas vanishing without notice, many families have turned to roadside eateries, restaurants, and LPG distribution points. Consequently, long queues now regularly form outside bakeries and food stalls, particularly for staple items like roti and naan. The situation has created significant inconvenience and added financial pressure on households already struggling with inflation.
Women and Students Bear the Brunt
Women, who traditionally shoulder the primary responsibility for cooking in most households, have been disproportionately affected by these outages. Additionally, students preparing for crucial examinations are facing compounded difficulties, as the gas shortages add to pre-existing challenges with electricity and water supply disruptions.
Muhammad Akhtar, a resident of the Sultanabad area, shared his frustration with local media. He recounted waiting for half an hour at an LPG shop, only to be informed that cylinders would arrive much later than expected. "It's incredibly frustrating," Akhtar stated. "Can't the gas utility manage their schedules properly so we can at least prepare ourselves? This lack of planning disrupts everything."
SSGC's Official Response and Denial
In an official statement released on Monday, SSGC categorically denied any disruption of gas supply during critical meal times. The company asserted that gas supply was consistently maintained for breakfast, lunch, and dinner periods, with system pressure at optimal capacity and line packs reported as healthy.
The statement further explained, "Even with the current shortage of Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG), SSGC is ensuring optimal gas supply to the power sector and the fertilizer sector to maintain national food security. Therefore, the company is managing the available resources in a balanced manner to meet the needs of all sectors." SSGC also claimed it had not received any widespread or "area-wide complaints" on the day in question.
Political Leaders Condemn Utility Failures
The ongoing crisis has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders across the spectrum. Ali Khurshidi, the opposition leader in the Sindh assembly representing the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, argued that the gas utility was adding an unbearable burden to citizens already reeling from rampant inflation.
"It is the fundamental responsibility of the SSGC to ensure supply as per the published schedule," Khurshidi emphasized. "This persistent crisis speaks volumes about the gas utility's operational inefficiency and poor management."
Fauzia Siddiqui, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Karachi Division Information Secretary, described the gas load-shedding—coupled with inflated utility bills and persistent water and electricity shortages—as clear evidence of "gross incompetence and anti-people policies" by the Sindh provincial government.
Siddiqui highlighted that Karachi contributes nearly 65 percent of Pakistan's national revenue yet remains deprived of basic civic necessities. She demanded immediate restoration of uninterrupted gas, water, and electricity supplies, along with urgent rehabilitation of the city's crumbling infrastructure.
The situation underscores a deepening energy and governance crisis in Pakistan's economic hub, with no immediate resolution in sight as citizens brace for potential further disruptions.
