The ongoing gas crisis continues to create trouble for citizens across the country.

According to details, the situation in Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta and other cities of Pakistan has intensified as the gas shortage continues to surge.

The citizenry has complained that they are facing immense difficulties in cooking and performing other related house chores. They also demanded the government to take notice of the situation and resolve the matter as early as possible.

With a sudden drop in temperature across the country, the total shortfall surged to 600 million metric cubic feet a day (MMCFD) that may compel the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to curtail the supply to sectors other than domestic consumers.

The shortfall has affected not only the supply to domestic consumers but also to the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) sector for the past several days.

Addressing a press conference in Sialkot on Sunday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan told the media that the government had directed the authorities concerned to ensure gas supply to households 'even at the cost of the CNG sector'.

On December 13, Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered that boards of directors of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and SSGCL be dissolved owing to the prevailing gas shortfall in the country.

The premier also gave directions for further strict action against gas suppliers, as the CNG crisis continued to disrupt public transport. The demand for gas has increased in Pakistan's domestic sector with the change in weather. Already facing power shortage, people are forced to rely on alternative sources of gas. Meanwhile, industrialists have decided to shut down their factories in Karachi in the wake of worsening gas crisis.

The chairman of Sindh Industrial and Trading State Area said maladministration of Sui Southern Gas Company has caused heavy losses to the industry. He also announced to hold a protest on January 1 at the Sindh Governor House.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan