Natural gas load disconnection without prior notice; CNG filling stations closed for second day in Peshawar
An employee checks empty LPG cylinders inside the Vidyarthi Bhavan restaurant, as restaurants and hotels in southern India, including the Bengaluru IT hub, have warned of closures amid disruptions to commercial LPG supplies, following the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Bengaluru, India, March 10, 2026. Photo: Reuters
PESHAWAR:
Serious hardships have gripped students, parents and commuters in Peshawar and across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after closure of CNG stations due to acute shortage of natural gas.
Most school van and bus operators have decided to suspend their services because CNG is not available, while public transporters that have switched to gasoline have drastically increased fares, increasing the financial burden on citizens.
CNG filling stations remained closed for the second consecutive day in the provincial capital and other parts of the province on Sunday. In several areas, unannounced natural gas load shedding has further exacerbated problems for domestic and commercial consumers.
The closure of CNG stations has forced many vehicles to stop operating or to run on more expensive gasoline, causing a new increase in transportation rates. School transporters are among the most affected. Owners of Suzuki vans and buses say running petrol-powered vehicles is beyond their financial capacity, leaving them no choice but to park their fleets.
Parents have expressed deep concern about the disruption of school transportation, fearing it will affect their children’s education and daily routine.
Public transport operators also face serious challenges. Those who have started using gasoline instead of CNG have already raised the rates. They warned that if CNG stations are not reopened soon, they will be forced to suspend service completely, which could bring public movement in the city to a virtual standstill.
The prolonged gas crisis has once again highlighted the province’s fragile energy situation, leaving thousands of citizens with difficulties for both mobility and domestic needs. The residents have appealed to the authorities concerned to urgently resolve the issue and ensure uninterrupted supply of CNG and natural gas.
