SSGC announces gas supply schedule for Sindh, Balochistan in winter

KARACHI: The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on Wednesday announced its winter gas supply schedule, under which domestic consumers will receive gas during three fixed daily slots for cooking, in line with federal government directives.

An SSGC spokesperson told Dawn that the schedule would apply to consumers in Sindh and Balochistan, adding that domestic consumers would receive a total of eight hours of gas supply in a 24-hour period.

In a schedule titled “Managing Gas Load Effectively This Winter”, shared on its website and social media platforms, the gas utility said it was prioritising domestic consumers by ensuring supply during meal times.

Under the schedule, gas will be available from 6:30am to 9am for breakfast, 12pm to 2:30pm for lunch and 6pm to 9pm for dinner.

For the past several years, residents of Karachi have not received round-the-clock gas supply. However, the utility had not officially announced that it was carrying out gas load-shedding. Instead, the three daily supply slots were previously communicated to media personnel by SSGC public relations officials on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, a severe gas shortage was reported in several parts of the city on Tuesday, with residents saying they woke up to find no gas in their stoves even during the notified breakfast hours.

Consumers complained of low pressure and complete suspension of supply during the scheduled hours, making it difficult for families to prepare meals.

The SSGC said the load management measures were aimed at managing gas demand effectively during the winter.

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