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In a concerning development, residents of Karachi’s Orangi Town have resorted to storing natural gas in plastic balloons as the city grapples with severe gas shortages and load-shedding, raising serious safety concerns among experts.

The makeshift solution has gained popularity particularly in the Mominabad area of Orangi Town, one of Karachi’s largest low-income neighborhoods. Residents are purchasing specially designed balloons, priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 (approximately $3.50-$5.30), to capture gas during the brief windows when supply is available.

“We have no choice but to adapt,” said one local resident who requested anonymity. “The gas comes for maybe an hour in the morning, and then disappears for the rest of the day. How are we supposed to cook meals for our families?”

The improvised system works by filling the balloons when pressure returns to the lines, disconnecting them, and then using the stored gas later for cooking throughout the day. For many families, this has become the only reliable way to prepare meals amid the unpredictable supply.

Safety experts, however, have sounded the alarm on this dangerous practice. “These are essentially mobile bombs,” warned Faraz Ahmed, a senior safety engineer at Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority. “Natural gas stored under pressure in non-standardized containers creates an immense explosion hazard. The risk from heat, friction, or even a small spark could be catastrophic.”

Pakistan’s ongoing gas crisis has intensified in recent months, particularly affecting Sindh province and its capital Karachi, the country’s largest city with over 20 million residents. The crisis stems from multiple factors, including depleting domestic gas reserves, increased winter demand, and infrastructure limitations.

Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), the utility responsible for gas supply in the region, has implemented a load management plan that prioritizes domestic consumers during meal preparation times. However, residents claim these schedules are rarely followed, leaving many households without gas for cooking for up to 18-20 hours daily.

“The company is trying to balance limited supply with exponentially growing demand,” explained energy analyst Khurram Hussain. “Pakistan’s domestic gas production has declined by approximately 38% over the past decade while consumption continues to rise. The gap is simply too wide to manage effectively without major policy interventions.”

The economic impact extends beyond household inconvenience. Small businesses like tea stalls, restaurants, and bakeries in Orangi Town report operating at limited capacity or closing entirely during gas outages. Many have switched to more expensive LPG cylinders, raising their operational costs and, consequently, consumer prices.

Government officials have acknowledged the crisis but point to long-term solutions still in development. Pakistan has increased LNG imports to supplement domestic supply, but terminal capacity constraints and foreign exchange limitations have hampered these efforts.

The situation in Orangi Town reflects a broader national energy security challenge that has become increasingly politicized. Opposition parties have criticized the government for mismanagement, while authorities blame previous administrations for failing to invest in exploration and infrastructure.

For the residents of Mominabad and surrounding areas, however, the immediate concern remains daily survival. Community leaders have begun organizing awareness sessions about the dangers of gas balloon storage, but without reliable alternatives, many families feel they have little choice but to continue the risky practice.

As winter progresses and demand peaks further, experts warn that without immediate intervention, more communities may resort to similarly dangerous improvised solutions, potentially leading to tragic consequences.