TAXILA: Sui gas consumers are facing difficulties because of low pressure of gas in Wah Cantonment, Taxila and Hassanabdal during peak hours when demand for gas is high.

Low pressure of gas is causing problems for restaurants, balceries and factories and affecting business. Domestic consumers are unable to use gas heaters to keep themselves warm in the cold and without stoves for cooking, routine life are severely disrupted.

Gas pressure is especially low in the mornings and evenings when it is impossible to even turn on a single stove or heater on low heat.

In the afternoon gas pressures improves slightly but cooking still takes hours.

Residents in areas that are more densely populated and those at the tail end of the gas supply lines are the worst hit.

We have no other option but to use liquefied petroleumgas (LPG), the price of which is increasing every day,` Dr Giasud Din, a resident of Lala Rukh, said.

Mohsin Tahir, a resident of Haideri Town, said that gas was usually available in his area before 06:00am. `We have to wake up before the sun comes up to make breakfast for our children,` he added.

`The government must come up with concrete shortterm as well as long-term policies to resolve the crises, otherwise, the life will come to a complete halt due to the increasing gas and electricity load shedding,` said Amina Khatoon, a resident of Lalazar area of Wah Cantonment.

When contacted, Area distribution officer of Sui Northern Gas Company has said there is no official gas load shedding being observed in the city. He said that the consumers facing difficulties due to gap in supply and demand.

He said `gas pressure has dropped due to an extra demand. We have not reduced the supply and are doing our best to manage the gas load. Ample gas supply to domestic consumers is our top priority and we are striving for it.