Manan Mandokhail:
QUETTA: Awami National Party (ANP) staged a protest demonstration outside the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Quetta office against unannounced and prolonged gas load shedding. The party workers blocked the main Samungli road to vent their anger against the company officials.
“No gas pressure during this chilly weather”, Mehboob Khan, a local leader of ANP said. He claimed the SSGC was supplying gas to posh and VIP areas of this provincial capital and stopped supplying to poor neighborhoods.
Quetta and other parts of Balochistan including the Ziarat, Kalat, Mastung, and Pishin districts of the province were facing low gas pressure before the arrival of the winter season. “We are fed up with this gas load shedding”, Mr. Khan claimed.
Protest causes suspension of traffic outside SSGC office
The protest caused the suspension of traffic outside the SSGC’s office. People faced difficulties and used alternative routes to reach their destinations. Long queues of vehicles were also witnessed on the road because of the blockade of the road.
“The company is sending excessive gas bills to the consumers”, Muhammad Ali, another protester claimed. He said first the company has to ensure the provision of gas supply and then demand gas bills from consumers.
Gas load-shedding compounds problems of masses
Quetta and various parts of the province are under the grip of cold and dry weather. No, and the low gas supply has further compounded the problems of the people. Some people in the city have also switched towards old stoves (angiti) and burn wood and coal in the chilly weather.
Despite repeated attempts, this daily was not able to speak to the officials of the SSGC. The General Manager SSGC, Muhammad Anwar Baloch said the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the company was based in Karachi. “Only he can comment on the behalf of the company”, Mr. Baloch said.
