Gas shortfall and costly LPG push twin cities to wood and coal

Residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have turned to wood and coal for cooking as piped natural gas reaches their homes for only about six hours a day and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sells at more than double the official rate, Dawn reported.

The price of LPG has reached Rs600 per kilogram in the twin cities against Rs279 per kilogram fixed by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), according to the report. The district administration and Ogra have not ensured the fuel is available at the notified price, Dawn said.

The same report said Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has stopped providing LPG cylinders to domestic consumers. Dawn did not give a reason or say how many households are affected.

A cold wave in the region has added to demand for cooking fuel, the report said, without giving consumption figures.

In a separate report, ANI said an LPG dealers' strike has deepened the shortage and driven cooking fuel prices higher. The strike did not feature in the other reports reviewed by Skardu Times, and the number of dealers involved was not stated.

IANS reported that people in the twin cities have been forced to switch to alternative fuels because of the gas shortfall and rising LPG prices. Its account matched Dawn's description of households moving to other fuels.

None of the reports said whether Ogra has moved against sellers charging above the fixed rate, or whether the Rawalpindi district administration has announced enforcement steps. Neither Ogra nor SNGPL was quoted responding.

Ogra sets the maximum retail price of LPG. At Rs600 per kilogram, consumers in the twin cities are paying Rs321 per kilogram more than the notified rate of Rs279. The reports did not say how long the shortfall is expected to last, or whether additional gas or cylinder supplies have been arranged for the winter months.

Dawn's report was filed from Rawalpindi and focused on household coping, rather than on the supply position of the two utilities serving the area. Skardu Times could not independently verify the price levels or the suspension of domestic cylinder supplies.