Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) winter gas timings now limit domestic supply in Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to three fixed cooking windows from 4 November, while Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has applied the same hours across Sindh and Balochistan. Together the country’s two main gas utilities are giving households roughly eight hours of piped gas a day under federal government directives, leaving about 16 hours without regular supply.
The three daily cooking windows
Under the new arrangement, homes are scheduled to receive gas from 6:30 am to 9:00 am, 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The slots are framed around breakfast, lunch and dinner so families can cook during peak meal times. Outside those periods, consumers should not expect normal pipeline pressure.
SNGPL winter gas timings for the northern network began on Wednesday, 4 November. An SSGC spokesperson said the matching schedule covers consumers across Sindh and Balochistan, took effect immediately, and has been posted on the company’s website and social channels. The company said the aim is to prioritise domestic users during meal preparation hours. Karachi and other SSGC areas fall under that southern timetable.
Why supply is being rationed
Officials say the government is putting household cooking first as liquefied natural gas (LNG) — gas imported in liquid form — becomes harder to secure and winter demand rises. That pressure on the national system is the stated reason for the load management calendar on both networks.
SNGPL has also trimmed gas to the compressed natural gas (CNG) sector from 50 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) to 35 mmcfd, with a full stop planned in the coming days. Cement plants have already moved to coal. Industrial users on the distribution network face cuts. Industries linked directly to the transmission network are receiving around 200 mmcfd; the power sector about 140 mmcfd; and fertiliser roughly 53 mmcfd. Further industrial cuts remain possible.
What households should plan for
For ordinary readers in Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi and other served cities, the practical change is simple: stove use needs to fit inside the three windows. Water heating, bathing and other gas chores will also have to cluster in those hours unless a household has an alternative fuel. The schedule is a load management plan, not a price change announced in these sources.
Anyone unsure about local pressure should treat the published slots as the baseline and check updates from their own utility, since both companies have warned that winter demand and LNG shortages could force tighter steps.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 4 November: SNGPL enforced winter domestic slots in Islamabad, Punjab and KP (6:30–9:00 am, 12:00–2:30 pm, 6:00–9:00 pm).
- Same period: SSGC confirmed identical hours for Sindh and Balochistan, with immediate effect, and shared them online.
- Alongside the domestic plan: SNGPL cut CNG allocation from 50 to 35 mmcfd and signalled a complete CNG suspension in coming days.
- Industry response so far: Cement has shifted to coal; distribution-network industry faces cuts; transmission users get about 200 mmcfd, power about 140 mmcfd, fertiliser about 53 mmcfd.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Sardi ke mausam mein gharoun ko rozana teen waqton par gas mile gi: subah, dopahar aur shaam. Kul mila kar sirf roughly ath ghante gas hai, baqi solah ghante regular supply ki umeed nahi. North mein SNGPL aur south mein SSGC ne yeh schedule lagaya hai taake khane pakane ke waqt gas mil sake. Apne ghar mein cooking aur pani garam karna inhi hours ke andar plan karein.
