Severe gas supply crunch likely

He said industries had already been notified in this regard. He said the gas bill might be doubled from the next month owing to additional use of gas in view of approaching winter.

He advised the consumers to confine use of gas only to cooking meal and warned them from utilizing heater and geezer. “A consumer making use of one heater and one geyser might receive a monthly gas bill of around Rs 15,000,” he said.

He maintained that the whole industry of Punjab and NWFP could be provided smooth supply of gas if use of geysers and heaters was stopped. He said that 33 per cent gas was wasted due to substandard machinery and poor appliances.

He urged the people to use up-to-date appliances and particularly Chinese equipment, having the capacity of saving gas as country was in dire need of energy.