Residents in Karachi have started storing natural gas in large plastic balloons. This is to cope with the city’s ongoing gas crisis. This unusual and risky practice has emerged in areas like Orangi Town. It is especially seen in Mominabad. Families face long hours of low gas pressure or complete load-shedding.
When the supply briefly returns, people quickly fill specially designed plastic balloons. These cost between Rs1,000 and Rs1,500 each. They then use the stored gas for cooking throughout the day. Many see this as their only practical solution. This comes after repeated failed attempts to get reliable service from the gas utility.
However, safety experts strongly condemn the trend. They call these balloons “mobile bombs.” They warn that even a small spark, friction, or change in pressure can cause a dangerous explosion inside homes. In densely populated neighborhoods, this raises serious fears. Fires and accidents could harm entire families.
Local residents say they have no other choice. Daily cooking has become a constant struggle. This forces them to adopt desperate measures just to prepare meals. The situation highlights the deepening frustration among Karachiites. They continue to suffer from inconsistent gas supply despite paying regular bills.
Experts now urge the concerned authorities and gas companies to take immediate steps. They want the shortage to be fixed and normal supply restored. They stress that such risky alternatives must not become a new normal in the city.
Until then, many families in Karachi remain trapped. They are caught between unreliable utilities and the dangerous workaround they have created to survive.
