Hyderabad faces crisis as LPG shortage looms

KARACHI:

Industrialists in Hyderabad have urged the government to ensure supply of LPG cylinders and issue licenses to LPG shops to address the severe gas shortage caused by Sui Southern Gas Company’s (SSGC) inability to supply gas to restaurants and roads , and home users.

Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) President Adeel Siddiqui has stressed the urgent need for government intervention to reopen gas shops that were closed after a recent gas shop incident. “The closure of LPG shops has caused a major crisis affecting restaurants, small factories, goldsmiths, blacksmiths and food streets,” Siddiqui told The Express Tribune. He urged the government to implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and immediately issue licenses to gas shops, adding, “I am against cylinder refilling, but fresh or new cylinders from companies should be allowed.”

Muhammad Farooq Shaikhani, President, Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries (HCSTSI), expressed concern over the crackdown on LPG shops, which has intensified in the last month. He questioned the timing and reasoning behind these actions, noting that measures are often taken only after major accidents. Shaikhani sought clarity on which department issued licenses to these shops and why they were allowed to operate in densely populated areas for years without interference.

The HCSTSI president highlighted the severe impact of this crackdown on thousands of domestic consumers, including teahouses, tandoors, restaurants, small hotels, eateries and households, who rely heavily on LPG. He pointed out that with gas prices soaring and new connections banned for more than three years, LPG cylinders have become the only viable option for many.

Shaikhani stressed the importance of ensuring safe LPG distribution to prevent accidents. He called for the implementation of standard testing and certification procedures for cylinders and limiting LPG sales to licensed distributors only. To enhance safety, he suggested using digital systems to monitor LPG distribution, educating consumers on safe use, establishing approved distribution centers in designated areas and banning LPG outlets in densely populated areas.

In his appeal to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Shaikhani urged speedy implementation of comprehensive measures to ensure safe distribution of LPG. He reiterated that resolving LPG supply issues is critical for both commercial and residential consumers in Hyderabad. He also called for efforts to discover new natural gas reserves, noting that the 18th Amendment gives the province from which minerals are extracted the first right to those resources. Therefore, he argued that the gas produced in Sindh should be given priority to the consumers of Sindh.