Energy Crisis Hits Bangladesh and Pakistan
The global energy crisis has taken a toll on Bangladesh and Pakistan, with gas shortages disrupting daily life in both countries.
In Dhaka, Parvin Akter times her cooking to the neighborhood's availability of piped gas. With gas in intermittent supply, she sometimes waits until midnight to cook dinner, even after switching to an induction cooker. The power outages often leave food half-cooked.
Pakistan has introduced a fuel subsidy to ease the sharp rise in fuel prices, but it's not working smoothly. Vehicle owners have to register for the subsidy, and Mohammad Musharraf, a resident of Karachi, says he spent days trying to register his motorcycle with his ID card number.
The energy crunch is driven by attacks on Iran over six months ago, which led to the disruption of oil and gas exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis also imperils trade through the Red Sea.