Due to economic crisis and inflation, the price of petroleum products in Pakistan has risen sharply. Common people are suffering due to this. Due to shortage of cooking gas cylinders, people suffer from lack of timely access to gas.
Amid this crisis, several videos have surfaced on social media showing alternative measures people are taking to get cooking gas. The practice of using gas in plastic bags instead of cylinders has increased. In Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, people are seen on video using large plastic bags to store cooking gas as stocks of cooking gas cylinders dwindle.
Stores connected to the country’s gas pipeline network fill these plastic bags with natural gas. To avoid leakage, sellers seal the bag tightly with a valve. The bags are then sold to the public. Then they use the gas with the help of a small electric pump. It is reported that it takes about an hour to fill three to four kilos of gas in plastic bags.
A video has surfaced of two boys carrying two large white plastic bags filled with gas. “These plastic bags have been warned about the danger of exploding and causing accidents. Even though this has raised fears, the rise in the price of cylinders has left us poor people with no choice,” said people.
This video is going viral on social media. Many viewers of the video have posted safety concerns as the practice is extremely dangerous. Users noted that even the slightest mistake could lead to gas leaks and explosions. “I can’t believe this. Isn’t there a sector called goods and services sector in Pakistan? Should basic safety standards be followed or not?” one questioned.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, stocks of cylinders have dwindled, forcing sellers to reduce supply. According to reports, people in Kharag district have not been provided with gas connections since 2007. Hangzhou has been without gas connection for the past two years. The pipeline carrying the gas has not been repaired since it broke.