February 2, 2010
Journalists are considered the defenders of rights of the people and they are expected to expose the excesses committed by the government on the citizens of Pakistan, but sadly when it comes to their own rights, they are too hapless. People say that even the most corrupt police department dreads journalists, but it is no more valid in today's moneyed world. SNGPL (Sui Northern Gas Pipelines) is also a public utility department which considers itself above everything and openly challenges the journalists to do whatever they can, but it would not provide gas to their residential colony-- Media Town, Loi Bher, Rawalpindi.
I moved here in July 2011 and the first shock was a fledgling water supply. The supply lines were ruptured frequently and sometimes the tubewell would break down. Had to source the tractor-pulled tank (700 rs each) for several weeks, but thanks to Allah the water supply became functional after Eidul Azha. It was a big tension, especially in summer when you need more water for bathing.
I started the construction of my house in late September 2010 and someone told me to apply for the gas connection as SNGPL takes at least a year to provide one. So I submitted by application on 1-10-2010. Meanwhile I asked Mr Mushtaq Minhas, the former President of National Press Club, what was the status of gas supply in A block and he said that the gas was available and the all the dues had been paid to SNGPL for the completion of approved gas supply scheme. After I moved in to Media Town, I went to SNGPL I-9 office and after going from one department to another and with a recommendation from the office of Petroleum Minister, I was issued a demand note in August 2011. I waited for more than a month and then went again to SNGPL office and they said that gas connection may be provided if I get priority marked by the Petroleum Minister. I also got the priority marked again.
Since winter was approaching and I was using LPG cylinders for cooking and the prices of LPG were skyrocketing, I again called Mr Minhas to check about the gas supply situation in A block and he said everything was alright and once I have been issued demand note, I will get gas. But since the weather was getting colder the need for hot water and room heating became immense. I visited the General Manager office and his staff told me that the GM could do nothing in the case of Media Town, A block as the Development Department of SNGPL was dealing with it and it was reporting directly to the MD SNGPL in Lahore head office and the officials in Development Department did not care what the GM Islamabad says. I met the Assistant Director Mr Shakeel, who said that A block cannot have gas because the Media Town had not paid them about 400,000 rupees and then he called the contractor and said that the Media Town had ruptured the lines while laying underground electricity lines and then he took up the bill to 1.2 million and said that Mr Minhas cannot get gas by threatening them and he has to pay the amount. Mr Shakeel also cursed Bolta Pakistan programme anchored by Mr Muhstaq Minhas. I told him that lines are already laid in A block and only SNGPL has to join them and commission them. But he said that lines were damaged by Media Town management.
I informed Mr Minhas about my conversation with Mr Shakeel and Mr Minhas said that SNGPL people think they are answerable to nobody and they do not listen to anyone. He said that he had become diabetic in dealing with utility departments and now the provision of gas to A block was in doldrums. "It could take three years or three months, three months if you are able to pressurize SNGPL officials from Prime Minister house or Petroleum Minister," Mr Minhas told me. Mr Minhas said that there was no problem of lines rupture in A block because electricity lines were already laid. There was problem in B, C, D block, but now SNGPL was demanding extra money. Mr Minhas said that Media Town had already paid the SNGPL more.
The I contacted Mr Farooq Faisal, the president of National Press Club and he assured me to look into the problem and assured early completion of the gas lines project in A Block.
I have spent the worst winters of my life in Media Town. Had I known the gas situation, I would have not dared to move in, but I was not told the truth. LPG is too expensive (18.6 kg cylinder costs 2,200 rupees and lasts two weeks, just for cooking and hot water for bath, while if you have Sui Gas, you can run heaters, geyser and stove in just 900-1000 rs per month). Electricity is also very expensive if you use it for heating. You cannot put cylinders inside your house for cooking and heating. Plus the cylinder ends without any warning and sometime if it happens in the night while you are cooking food you can imagine the difficulty. I am using two electric heaters and one electric geyser and this means the bill of thousands of rupees, but I am forced to pay because I cannot punish my family. Electric heaters are just too insufficient to keep yourself warm in winter. You have to stick with it otherwise a new house in winter feels like an Igloo, sometimes it is as cold as outside. I have to wear so many things to survive but it is still cold.
The purpose of writing all this is to inform/caution about the life in A block of Media Town to those who are building their houses or planning to do so, so that they are not caught unaware like me. It is good thing that most of the houses in B, C and D block have got gas, but in A block it seems never coming.
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