Islamabad, April 14 (NationPress) Residents of Karachi, Pakistan are grappling with significant challenges as the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has been unable to maintain a steady gas supply, even during key meal times, local reports indicated on Tuesday.

Despite the SSGC asserting that gas is provided to homes from 6 am to 10:30 pm (local time) without interruption, residents have reported persistent unannounced outages over the last fortnight. Many households in Karachi have turned to roadside vendors, restaurants, and LPG suppliers in search of alternative cooking solutions, as highlighted by Dawn, a leading daily.

Rehan Danish, a local resident, described the circumstances as "chaotic," stating, "I had to hurry home from my office in Saddar, purchasing lunch for my children after my wife informed me that our kitchen was out of service due to unexpected gas outages."

A woman shared her disappointment over canceling a family dinner due to the lack of gas supply, while another criticized the SSGC for the unexpected outages during the limited scheduled hours of supply.

One frustrated resident questioned, "Why doesn’t the SSGC inform residents in advance about gas cuts? Do they intend to increase their customers' suffering?"

As alternatives became scarce, long lines formed at LPG stations as customers waited for refills, with many shops running out of LPG, compounding the issue.

A resident at an LPG shop expressed his frustration, saying, “I waited for half an hour, only to be told that the gas delivery would be delayed.” He added, “It’s exasperating. Can’t the gas utility manage their schedules effectively so we can plan accordingly?”

Many citizens took to social media to voice their grievances against the gas utility company. Meanwhile, the SSGC maintained its position that it is facilitating proper gas supply during meal hours, as reported by Dawn.

Additionally, prices for roti and chapati in Karachi have surged amid a severe Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) crisis, further straining families already coping with inflation.

Tandoor operators have raised their prices by Pakistani Rupees (PKR) five, attributing the increase to higher production expenses stemming from the rise in LPG prices, which has become a common substitute in lieu of natural gas, according to The Express Tribune.

Tandoor owner Manzoor Hussain noted that most tandoor operators in Karachi have switched to using LPG, leading to heightened operational costs. "With LPG prices on the rise, we have no option but to adjust the prices of roti and chapati," he shared with The Express Tribune.

Currently, low-weight roti is priced at PKR 25, heavier roti at PKR 30, and chapati at PKR 20 across various locations in Karachi. Residents have expressed their concerns over the ongoing price hikes on essential goods and have urged the government to take immediate action to stabilize prices and provide relief to the public.