All industries including their power generation units and all CNG stations in Sindh would observe 48 hours closure from 8am December 30, 2023 to 8am January 1, 2024 due to gas shortage, the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited said on Friday.

“The closure is due to shortage of gas supplies in SSGC’s system that has reduced gas availability,” the national gas company said in a statement. It has resulted in “depletion of line pack and causing low pressures in the system.”

CNG stations being operated on LNG would also be closed, the SSGC added. On Thursday, the gas supply in over 16 areas of Karachi was blocked because of the repairing of a 16-inch diameter gas pipeline in the city’s Bath Island Clifton area.

According to the company, the closure was in pursuant to “Clause number 14 of GSA for Industrial Customers approved by OGRA and ECC-approved sector-wise Gas Load Management Plan that rationalises gas usage.”

The SSGC has warned that it would take strict action against any industry found violating the ‘Gas Holiday Period’ by disconnecting their gas supplies for at least seven days.

Pakistan, which is facing 8% to 9% gas depletion every year from its own reserves, has been looking for avenues to meet its demands. But the South Asian country, which is under an International Monetary Fund programme, made massive increase in gas prices to get the deal done.

The federal government notified a hike of up to 172% in gas tariff in October. It increased the fixed monthly charges for the residential “protected category” from Rs10 to Rs400.

It merits here to mention that gas prices would be further increased in January 2024.