No roti, no naan: Karachi families burn in anger as their stoves stop burning amid gas crisis in Pakistan’s largest city

Karachi residents are facing serious hardships as unannounced gas load continues for the second consecutive week. Many households wake up with no gas to make breakfast, forcing them to resort to alternative arrangements or skip meals altogether. When the gas went off without notice, long queues formed in front of bakeries and LPG stores. Staples like roti and naan are in high demand, and many families are now eating out or cooking in shifts. Women, who do most of the home cooking, bear the heaviest burden.

According to TOI, Mohammed Akhtar, a resident of Sultanabad, told reporters that he waited for half an hour at the LPG sales point but was told that the cylinders would arrive late. “It’s frustrating,” he said. “Can’t the gas company manage their schedules properly so we can prepare ourselves?”

Students and daily routines are disrupted

The crisis also affects students preparing for exams. Many people are having difficulty maintaining their work routines due to simultaneous natural gas, electricity and water outages.

SSGC denies major disruption

Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has denied allegations of widespread disruption during meal times, according to TOI. In a statement, the utility said gas supply was maintained by keeping system pressure at optimum levels during breakfast, lunch and dinner. He added that it is balancing limited resources to meet the needs of the energy and fertilizer sectors for food security.

Political leaders criticize SSGC and Sindh government

Opposition leaders strongly criticized both the SSGC and the Sindh government. Ali Khurshidi of Pakistan Muttahida Qaumi Movement described the continuous cuts as a sign of inefficiency that adds to the burden of inflation-hit citizens, according to TOI.

PTI’s Fauzia Siddiqui, quoted by TOI, described the gas crisis as evidence of “gross incompetence and anti-people policies”, along with inflated bills and water and power cuts. He noted that Karachi contributes about 65% of the country’s income but continues to face basic infrastructure failures.

Urgent call for action

The leaders demanded immediate restoration of uninterrupted gas supply and urgent rehabilitation of the gas network. For now, many Karachi families continue to change their routines, hoping that the situation will improve soon; cooking in shifts, relying on roadside restaurants or using alternative fuels.

(With TOI entries)