QUETTA: The Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) has issued a strong condemnation of the severe gas shortages and low pressure plaguing Quetta and surrounding cold districts, labeling the crisis “anti-people and completely inhumane.”
In a hard-hitting official statement, the party criticized Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) officials for their handling of the winter crisis. The HDP claimed that many senior officers, including the General Manager, do not reside permanently in Quetta and are therefore disconnected from the severe hardships faced by residents. “They do not have any information about the problems… of the residents of Quetta,” the statement read, arguing this is why the company fails to treat the gas crisis with the urgency it demands.
The party emphasized that for the people of Quetta, gas is not a mere convenience but an essential fuel for survival. “The lives of children, the elderly, the sick, women, and the disabled depend on this fuel,” the statement highlighted, adding that only those with their own families enduring the harsh cold can truly grasp the gravity of the situation.
The HDP pointed to chronic, unaddressed complaints in areas like Alamdar Road and Hazara Town, noting that past protests and demonstrations by its assembly members yielded no results. The statement expressed a loss of faith in the current “fake” assembly representatives and declared that real political parties and the public themselves must take action. It ended with an ultimatum, demanding the immediate restoration of gas supply and an increase in pressure, and warning of intensified public protests if the situation does not improve.
Meanwhile the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party PKNAP has issued a strong press release condemning the severe gas load shedding in Quetta and surrounding areas, describing the gas company’s actions as “criminal negligence.”
The party stated that the complete shutdown of gas after 10 PM and during the day has made life miserable for citizens, depriving them of a basic necessity. It highlighted that thousands of women, the elderly, sick, and children are facing severe difficulties as they cannot cook food or complete household chores.
