Unannounced load shedding of natural gas; CNG filling stations close 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 IT hub of Bengaluru, have warned of shutdowns due to disruptions in commercial LPG supply following the US-Israel conflict with Iran in Bengaluru, India, March 10, 2026. Photo: Reuters
PESHAWAR:
Severe hardship has gripped students, parents and daily commuters in Peshawar and across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa following the closure of CNG stations due to acute shortage of natural gas.
Most school bus and bus operators have decided to discontinue their services because CNG is not available, while public transporters that have switched to petrol have hiked fares sharply, adding to 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 load shedding of natural gas has further aggravated the problems for private and commercial consumers.
The closure of CNG stations has forced many vehicles to either stop running or run on more expensive petrol, which has resulted in a new increase in transport prices. School transporters are among the hardest hit. Owners of Suzuki vans and buses say vehicles running on petrol are beyond their financial means, leaving them with no option but to park their fleets.
Parents have expressed deep concern over the disruption to school transport, fearing it will affect their children’s education and daily routine.
Public transport operators also face serious challenges. Those who have started using petrol instead of CNG have already hiked the fares. They warned that if CNG stations are not reopened soon, they will be forced to suspend services altogether, which may bring public movement in the city to a standstill.
The protracted gas crisis has again highlighted the fragile energy situation in the province, leaving thousands of citizens struggling with both mobility and household needs. The residents have appealed to the concerned authorities to resolve the issue on an urgent basis and ensure uninterrupted supply of CNG and natural gas.
