Industrial units whose gas consumption has decreased are still being sent demand notices for additional deposits.
KARACHI: Notices to the industrial consumers of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) have been issued, in which they have been asked to pay additional deposits based on the average gas consumption during the last 90 days, failing which their gas connections will be disconnected. This is a new way that the SSGC seems to have employed to extort money from the already beleaguered industrial sector. Most industries have closed or are operating at less than 20 per cent of their capacity, while some are in the process of looking for more viable industrial pursuits, yet the present demand by the SSGC applies equally to all industries regardless of their operational status.
Those industrial units whose gas consumption has not increased but has rather decreased during the period of 90 days specified are still being sent demand notices for additional deposits. I believe that this comes under unfair trade practices. Therefore, the authorities concerned, including the judiciary is requested to intervene and prevent the SSGC from charging this amount.
Mazhar Butt
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2013.
