KARACHI: The city suffered a day-long gas supply disruption on Monday after a shortfall in supply from two major gas fields, which, according to the gas company, had experienced technical faults.

The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) said that the fault at the Bhit and Sawan gas fields led to a gas shortage in the city.

A gas utility spokesperson said there had initially been a shortfall of 50 million cubic feet (MMcf), and 40MMcf had been recovered by the afternoon. “The remaining 10MMcf shortfall will be recovered by 8pm, normalising the gas supply as per schedule across the city,” she added.

However, prolonged cuts added to the miseries of already gas-starved consumers in the city due to the shortfall in supply from two gas fields.

Consumers say shifting to LPG has become too expensive after price reached Rs450 a kilo

The hours-long suspension of gas supplies disrupted people’s lives, leaving them with few options other than eating out or ordering takeaways, as the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) per kg price also rose to Rs450 in some parts.

It is pertinent to mention that the price of LPG was around Rs220 to Rs240per kg in the city before the US-Israel-Iran war.

Reports from several parts of the city, however, suggested that the gas supply had not resumed even by 10pm.

“I couldn’t cook lunch for children, and I had to take them to a nearby restaurant as there was no gas in my house since morning,” a housewife from Saddar said, adding that she would serve her family dinner with cold leftovers from their lunch.

Another disgruntled woman from Korangi complained that the gas utility was very regular in sending exorbitant bills in the name of “slow meter charges”, but never ensured a smooth gas supply.

It may be noted that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has announced a public hearing on April 21 to consider SSGCL’s request for a 144 per cent increase in gas prices.

The LPG price hike has already had a significant impact on households and businesses, especially low-income families who rely on it in the absence of natural gas.

“I can’t afford to cook for my family with this expensive gas,” said Muhammad Ismail, a carpenter in Arambagh.

Another labourer said that the LPG price hike was too much, and he was unable to make ends meet. “Should we switch to a wood stove again?” he jibed.

An employee of a food chain said that his salary was not enough to cover the price of LPG for daily cooking at home. “My wife keeps asking me for gas, but I cannot afford it,” he said.

A roadside locksmith, who lives in an informal settlement, said that the price of LPG was likely to increase further, and he did not know how he would manage cooking at home.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2026