'No gas for roti, naan': Karachi families struggle as unannounced cuts enter second week

For the second consecutive week, unannounced gas outages have thrown daily life into chaos across Karachi, Pakistan forcing families to queue for roti and LPG while drawing sharp criticism from political leaders and a denial of lapses from the utility company.The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has been accused of failing to adhere to its stated schedule of uninterrupted supply from 6 am to 10:30 pm. Citizens reported frequent load-shedding with little or no advance notice, forcing households to seek alternative cooking arrangements.With gas vanishing without warning, many households have turned to roadside eateries, restaurants, and LPG stations. Long queues now snake outside bakeries and food stalls, especially for staples like roti and naan. Women, who bear the primary responsibility for cooking, have been hit hardest. Students preparing for exams are also struggling, with gas shortages adding to existing power and water woes.Muhammad Akhtar, a resident of Sultanabad, told Dawn he waited half an hour at an LPG shop only to be told that cylinders would arrive late. "It's frustrating," he said. "Can't the gas utility manage their schedules properly so we can prepare ourselves?"In a statement issued on Monday, SSGC denied any disruption during meal times. The company said gas supply was maintained for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with system pressure at optimal capacity and line packs healthy."Even with the shortage of RLNG, SSGC is also ensuring optimal gas supply to the power sector and the fertiliser sector for food security. Therefore, the company is trying to manage the available resources in a balanced manner so that the needs of all the sectors are met," it said. SSGC also claimed it had not received any "area-wide complaints" on the day.Ali Khurshidi, opposition leader in the Sindh assembly from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, said the gas utility was adding to the burden on citizens already reeling from inflation."It is the responsibility of the SSGC to ensure supply as per the schedule," he said. "The persistent crisis speaks volumes about the gas utility's inefficiency."PTI Karachi Division Information Secretary Fauzia Siddiqui described the gas load-shedding, along with inflated utility bills and persistent water and electricity shortages, as evidence of "gross incompetence and anti-people policies" of the Sindh government. She noted that Karachi contributes nearly 65 per cent of national revenue but remains deprived of basic necessities. Siddiqui demanded immediate and uninterrupted supply of gas, water and electricity, along with urgent infrastructure rehabilitation.