Pakistan’s Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has announced a gas load-shedding schedule for Ramadan, limiting supply during specific hours, ARY News reported.
Gas Supply Restrictions During Ramadan
According to the schedule, gas supply will be suspended from 9 AM to 3 PM and 10 PM to 3 AM during the holy month. However, the SSGC has assured uninterrupted gas availability during Sehr and Iftar times to facilitate fasting individuals. The company also highlighted Pakistan’s declining gas reserves, which are depleting at a rate of 8-10% annually. In a concerning statement, SSGC warned that the country’s gas reserves could be reduced by half by 2027.
Moon Sighting Prediction
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SPARCO) has predicted that the Ramadan moon is likely to be sighted on Friday, as per ARY News.
Economic and Political Criticism
On February 2, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, blamed the current government for Pakistan’s ongoing economic and political crisis. PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram criticized the Shehbaz Sharif-led regime for focusing on consolidating power instead of addressing global economic warnings, Dawn reported.
Akram condemned the government’s decision to increase parliamentary salaries by 300% to shield lawmakers from inflation, while simultaneously burdening the public with rising gas and fuel prices. He called the hikes in petroleum products (POL) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) a continuation of the government’s anti-poor policies, which he said would further deepen public suffering.
Public Outrage Over Gas Shortages
The ongoing gas crisis in Karachi has severely disrupted daily life, sparking frustration among residents. Many complain of limited supply and soaring costs. Citizens from various neighborhoods have voiced their grievances, emphasizing the hardships caused by the worsening situation.
One resident shared on January 29 that his family has faced gas shortages for over a year. He lamented, “Our kids skip breakfast. To avoid using costly and hazardous LPG cylinders, we have pleaded with the government to supply gas for at least four hours daily.”
The situation remains dire as Pakistan grapples with energy shortages, economic difficulties, and public discontent.