Abrupt closure of compressed natural gas (CNG) stations on Thursday by Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) created lot of problems for commuters as public transporters withdrew busses and mini buses, largely and declined to use expensive diesel fuel to operate buses.
Normally, under the SSGC load-management program, CNG stations remain open on Thursday. However, this week, CNG stations in the city remained closed for two consecutive days on Wednesday and Thursday.
A large number of the affected CNG stakeholders protested in front of SSGC office against continued 48 hours CNG load shedding that caused problems to public. The protesters said that they agreed, in principal, on three days closure of CNG stations on alternate days which was followed for last two years since their protest in 2015-16. But now SSGC have begun 48 hours closure which is not acceptable to them, they said.
However, SSGC claimed that due to shortfall of 80 mmcfd of gas and winter's peak season, domestic customers are facing low gas pressure. Therefore, as a forced measure, all CNG stations in Sindh remained closed on Thursday for next 24 hours whereas Wednesday was the normal closure day of CNG.
It is now becoming a normal practice of buses and mini buses' operators that they reduce number of buses on road on the day of closure of CNG stations in the city on the pretext that they operate transport on CNG. Almost 100 percent of all public transport minibuses operating in the city have been converted on CNG. Due to closure, people suffer because they don't find buses/mini buses to reach their workplaces and return homes.
Karachi is the economic hub of the country where the worsening transport system has become a curse for its residents. It is also affecting the business community.
The worst sufferers are the commuters who face immense problems while traveling to and from their homes. The vehicles are running on gas only and they cannot be switched on petrol or diesel hence they need to replace their relevant defective devices for easy conversion to petrol or diesel.

















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