Residents and businesses in Bajaur district and its surrounding regions are bracing for a severe gas supply disruption, as utility authorities confirm a scheduled maintenance shutdown aimed at upgrading aging infrastructure.
The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) issued the alert late Wednesday, citing a critical need to replace corroded pipeline segments that have caused repeated pressure drops throughout the winter. The outage is slated to begin at 6:00 a.m. this Saturday and will persist for at least 48 hours.
For the thousands of households in the region, the timing is particularly punishing. With temperatures already dipping toward freezing at night, the lack of gas for heating and cooking leaves families scrambling for alternatives. Local markets are already seeing a spike in the price of firewood and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders as residents try to prepare for the inevitable cold snap.
Local shopkeepers and restaurant owners are also feeling the pinch. “A two-day shutdown isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a direct hit to our daily revenue,” said Rahim Khan, who operates a food stall in the main bazaar. “If we can’t cook, we can’t work. It’s that simple.”
SNGPL officials argue the maintenance is unavoidable. A spokesperson for the company told local media that the current network is “operating at the edge of its capacity,” and the upgrades are intended to prevent a more catastrophic system failure during the peak of the upcoming winter season.
Despite the technical justification, public frustration is mounting. Community leaders have pointed out that similar “scheduled maintenance” projects in the past have frequently overrun their deadlines, leaving citizens without service for days longer than promised.
The district administration has urged residents to stock up on essentials, but for many, the advice offers little comfort. As the clock ticks toward Saturday morning, the primary concern remains whether the utility company can stick to its timeline—or if the residents of Bajaur are in for a much longer, colder wait.
