Karachi: Residents across Karachi faced gas shortages and low pressure on Tuesday, November 3, disrupting household cooking as conflicting supply schedules circulated on social media and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) came under criticism for failing to provide information about the interruptions.

The disruption affected several parts of the city, including Gulshan i Iqbal, Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, Federal B Area, North Karachi, Gulistan i Jauhar, Malir, Korangi, Landhi, Orangi Town, Lyari, Saddar, DHA and Clifton. Residents said gas was unavailable during breakfast and dinner hours, despite earlier assurances that households would receive supplies at meal times.

Some consumers reported that gas pressure remained too low to operate cooking stoves even when supply was available. The complaints come after years of interruptions to household gas services in Karachi, where consumers have increasingly relied on scheduled supply rather than round the clock availability.

SSGC announces gas supply timings

Following Tuesday's complaints, SSGC announced a winter supply schedule on Wednesday, November 4, for domestic consumers in Sindh and Balochistan. According to the company, households will receive gas during three periods each day, amounting to eight hours of supply.

The utility said the arrangement was introduced under federal government directives to manage gas demand during winter, with household cooking requirements receiving priority. The announcement followed confusion caused by several schedules attributed to SSGC that began circulating online on Monday.

Consumers had complained that the company had not provided a consolidated timetable, leaving households uncertain about when cooking gas would be available.

Residents report disruption to daily routines

The shortage affected families preparing meals, with residents saying the interruptions forced them to purchase food from restaurants, roadside eateries and tandoors. According to Dawn, consumers in several neighbourhoods reported being unable to cook despite waiting for the hours when gas was expected.

The situation also affected schoolchildren, older residents and people requiring meals at particular times. Residents raised concerns over the cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which some households use as an alternative when pipeline gas is unavailable.

For families dependent on daily earnings, purchasing prepared meals or alternative fuel places an additional burden on household budgets. Consumers also criticised the lack of advance notice, saying information about changes in supply would help them plan cooking and other household activities.

Why does Karachi face gas shortages?

Karachi's supply problems form part of a wider gap between Pakistan's natural gas production and consumption. The country has experienced declining production from domestic gas fields while demand from households, businesses and industry continues to place pressure on available supplies. In a response submitted to the Senate in August 2025, the federal government said the gas supplied to SSGC had fallen from 1,083 million cubic feet per day in the 2019 to 20 financial year to 710 million cubic feet per day in 2023 to 24.

This represented a decline of approximately 34 per cent over the period. The government acknowledged that rising demand and declining domestic production had widened the supply gap. The problem becomes more pronounced during winter, when households require additional gas for cooking, heating and water heaters.

Gas distribution companies therefore use supply management arrangements to distribute available volumes among consumers. However, reduced supply is not the only concern. Consumers have also raised questions about pressure levels, the timing of interruptions and the reliability of information issued by the utility.

Questions over communication and accountability

The conflicting schedules circulating on social media highlighted concerns about how consumers receive information regarding gas supply. SSGC has previously rejected unofficial schedules circulated online and advised consumers to rely on announcements issued through its communication channels.

The company now faces the task of ensuring that households receive gas during the announced periods and that consumers are informed when disruptions occur. The winter arrangement provides a timetable, but the complaints reported on Tuesday show that scheduled hours do not necessarily guarantee adequate pressure or uninterrupted supply.

Gas shortages also have implications for household spending, particularly when families must purchase LPG or prepared food to meet cooking needs. For consumers, the immediate concern is whether the utility can maintain supply during the announced hours.

In the longer term, improvements will depend on addressing the gap between gas demand and availability, maintaining distribution infrastructure and strengthening communication between SSGC and its customers.