Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims, and during this period, gas demand in Pakistan surges significantly, especially during Sehri and Iftar. To manage this increased consumption, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) have announced specific gas load-shedding schedules to ensure uninterrupted supply during critical hours. However, despite these measures, several cities have already reported shortages, making it challenging for households to prepare meals on time.
SNGPL Gas Schedule for Ramadan 2025
SNGPL supplies gas to Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and has released a special Ramadan schedule to prioritize domestic users. The schedule is as follows:
Gas Availability Timings:
- Sehri: 2:30 AM to 8:00 AM
- Iftar: 2:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Gas Closure Timings:
- 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM
- 10:00 PM to 2:30 AM
To maintain stability, monitoring teams have been deployed to ensure adequate gas pressure during Sehri and Iftar times. However, despite these planned schedules, consumers in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Peshawar have reported low gas pressure, leading to difficulties in meal preparation.
SSGC Gas Schedule for Ramadan 2025
SSGC, responsible for gas distribution in Sindh and Balochistan, has also introduced a schedule prioritizing domestic users during Sehri and Iftar.
Gas Availability Timings:
- Sehri: 3:00 AM to 9:00 AM
- Iftar: 3:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Gas Closure Timings:
- 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
- 10:00 PM to 3:00 AM
SSGC has assured consumers that strict monitoring will be conducted to ensure smooth gas flow during essential hours. However, areas like Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, and Sukkur have already reported shortages, with residents struggling to cook meals during Sehri.
Challenges Faced by Consumers
Despite the announced schedules, gas shortages remain a major issue in several cities. Many residents are facing:
- Low gas pressure or complete outages during peak hours.
- Households relying on alternative sources like LPG cylinders or electric stoves for cooking.
- Complaints of irregular supply, with some areas receiving gas only for a few hours.
Several families in Karachi (Nazimabad, Malir, and Gulshan-e-Iqbal), Rawalpindi (Saddar, Satellite Town), and Lahore (Model Town, Gulberg) have raised concerns over the poor gas supply during Sehri, making it difficult to prepare meals.
Government Measures and Recommendations
To address the crisis, authorities have suggested energy-saving measures and urged consumers to:
- Avoid excessive gas usage and turn off unnecessary burners.
- Use alternate cooking options, such as electric stoves or LPG cylinders, to minimize dependency on natural gas.
- Stay updated with gas company notifications to be aware of any schedule changes.
Conclusion
While SNGPL and SSGC have introduced structured schedules to ensure gas availability during Ramadan 2025, many areas continue to suffer from shortages and low pressure. To tackle these issues, households must adopt energy-efficient cooking practices and stay informed about their local gas supply updates.
