ISLAMABAD: To facilitate millions of citizens observing the holy month, the federal government and gas utility companies have officially announced a specialized gas supply schedule for Ramadan 2026. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, in a joint press conference on Wednesday, February 18, confirmed that a “uninterrupted supply at maximum pressure” will be ensured during peak cooking hours. To manage the 10% annual decline in national gas reserves, the companies will implement “pressure profiling” (load management) during off-peak hours, primarily late at night and midday.
Regional Timings: Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan
The two main utilities, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), have released slightly different windows to cater to regional needs:
- Punjab & KP (SNGPL): Managing Director Amir Tufail announced that gas will be available from 3:00 AM to 10:30 PM daily. Unlike previous years, the company aims to provide a continuous 19-hour window rather than splitting it into two shifts.
- Sindh & Balochistan (SSGC): For Karachi, Quetta, and other regions, the supply will be split into two critical blocks:
- Sehri: 3:00 AM to 9:00 AM
- Iftar: 3:30 PM to 10:00 PM
- Off-Hours: SSGC will suspend or significantly reduce pressure from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM and 10:00 PM to 3:00 AM to build up the “line pack” for the next meal time.
Government Measures and “Situation Rooms”
To ensure these promises are met, the Petroleum Division has established “Situation Rooms” at the head offices of both SNGPL and SSGC. These centers will monitor real-time pressure, especially at the “tail-end” of the network where complaints are most frequent. The government has also arranged “additional gas volumes” to meet the spike in domestic demand, as millions of stoves are switched on simultaneously during Sehri and Iftar.
Warning Against Suction Pumps (Compressors)
The utilities have issued a stern warning against the use of illegal gas compressors or suction pumps. Officials noted that these devices not only deprive neighbors of their fair share but also pose significant safety risks. SSGC has authorized special raiding teams to disconnect the supplies of violators and impose heavy fines. Consumers facing low pressure or outages during the notified hours are encouraged to lodge complaints via the 1199 helpline or the companies’ respective mobile apps.
