SSGC to recover Rs28 billion from KESC

KESC also to launch recovery drive from Aug 18.

KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Spokesman Zuhair Siddiqui said on Thursday that SSGC would exercise all available means to recover its dues from Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC).

Talking to The Express Tribune, Siddiqui said that KESC owed SSGC Rs28 billion. He said that SSGC and KESC would hold a meeting in a week to agree on a payment plan.

Siddiqui said that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad were helping the two companies reach an agreement on the issue.

“It is easier to disconnect KESC’s gas supply. However, SSGC does not want the people of Karachi to face the worst kind of load-shedding during Ramazan,” he said. “SSGC reserves the right to disconnect or decrease gas supply to KESC if the two parties don’t agree on a payment plan,” he added.

On the other hand, KESC has launched a drive to recover its dues, amounting to over Rs37 billion, from residential and commercial customers.

According to a statement issued on Thursday, KESC would disconnect electricity supply to all defaulters, irrespective of their category or outstanding amount, from August 18.

KESC has also deployed especial teams in residential and commercial areas for this purpose, it said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2011.