KARACHI:
Despite hours-long gas outages from late November up to February, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has not only issued bills with full charges but also added Passing Un-registered Gas (PUG) charges to the bills. I have repeatedly complained to SSGC about the issue. Normally, SSGC is required to send a team to check and replace meters if customers complain about PUG charges. However, I have not received any response from them.
So not only do we have to continue paying gas bills without availing the service, but also pay additional charges due to the company’s negligence. In recent days, gas outages have reduced yet the gas pressure is often low and suddenly discontinues for long periods. The gas pressure is particularly low during the early hours of the morning between 4 am to 6 am. With Ramazan starting next week, will SSGC continue torturing consumers with outages during the fasting month as well?
Even if the company wants to increase its revenue, burdening consumers without properly providing the service is unfair. The relevant authorities must take notice of the issue and refund or compensate customers for the additional charges we have paid throughout the winter season. The public is already faced with many issues, and the gas crisis has become yet another stressor. If the country is faced with an imminent gas shortage, the government needs to be honest with the public and provide the consumers with an alternative.
Ashfaq Sharif
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2023.
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