Quetta Residents Face Severe Hardship as Gas and Electricity Shortages Paralyze Daily Life Amid Freezing Cold

Quetta (Daily Qudrat) — The provincial capital Quetta is grappling with extreme cold, while unannounced gas and electricity outages across multiple areas have severely disrupted daily life. Despite temperatures dropping below freezing, low gas pressure and frequent power cuts have left households struggling to cook, heat homes, and maintain basic living standards.

Areas including Jinnah Town, Saryab Road, Nawan Kali, Shaldara, Kali Darani, Pashtunabad, Lahri Gate, Quari Road, Khurkotabad, and Satellite Town are experiencing prolonged gas shortages in the early morning and nighttime hours. Even where gas is available, low pressure makes it nearly impossible to cook, forcing many families to rely on firewood, coal, and expensive LPG cylinders, drastically increasing household expenses.

Frequent power outages have compounded residents’ suffering, making it difficult to provide warm water, operate heaters, or prepare food, particularly affecting children and the elderly. Hospitals report a sharp rise in patients suffering from cold-related illnesses, including flu, colds, and pneumonia. Parents are struggling to send children to school due to the freezing conditions.

The business community has also been severely impacted, with tea shops, bakeries, and small factories unable to operate normally, threatening livelihoods and local commerce.

Citizens have strongly criticized gas and electricity providers for poor performance and demanded immediate restoration of services, along with accountability for responsible officials. Residents warned that if the situation continues, the hardships in the city could become unbearable, urging government intervention and effective measures to ensure basic utilities during the harsh winter.