The Natural Gas crisis in the Month of Ramadan:

The gas crisis is a serious problem in Pakistan, especially during the month of Ramadan when people need gas for cooking meals for Sehri and Iftar. According to reports, several areas of Karachi, Quetta, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi face gas outages or low gas pressure for several hours a day.

Some citizens have protested against the gas companies and the government for failing to ensure a continuous gas supply.

Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) have announced that they are facing a shortage of more than 300 mmscfd of gas supply and have cautioned that gas outages are expected during Ramadan due to an annual decrease of 8 to 10 percent in the country’s gas reservoirs. They have also announced a “gas profiling” schedule which will run from 8 am to 2:30 pm during which gas pressure will remain low. However, they have assured consumers they will be provided with gas during Sehr and Iftar time.

People are coping with the gas crisis in Pakistan in different ways. Some of them are:

• Utilizing alternative energy sources, such as solar power, electric stoves, gas cylinders, biogas plants, etc. However, these options are either expensive, risky or not widely available.
• Adjusting their cooking schedules following the gas companies’ “gas profiling” schedule, which calls for low gas pressure from 8 am to 2:30 pm and normal gas pressure during Sehr and Iftar.
• Lowering their gas usage through the use of energy-efficient appliances, preparing less food, or dining out.

All of the above are temporary solutions adopted by individuals. The government of Pakistan should take some serious notice of this issue. It is a complex and multifaceted problem that requires a holistic and long-term approach. However, some of the possible steps that can help address the gas crisis in Pakistan are:

• Developing a comprehensive and integrated energy policy that balances the demand and supply of gas and other energy sources and aligns with the national development goals and climate commitments.
• Investing in gas infrastructure development and maintenance to reduce gas losses, theft, and wastage, and to improve gas quality and delivery.
• Diversifying the energy mix by increasing the share of renewable energy sources and reducing the reliance on gas and other fossil fuels.
• Enhancing regional cooperation and trade in energy with neighboring countries to ensure energy security and stability.
• Creating awareness and incentives among consumers to adopt energy conservation and efficiency measures to reduce gas consumption and save costs. These are some of the possible steps that can help solve the gas crisis in Pakistan sustainably and permanently.