Al Asif Square raid: SSGC disconnects 500 illegal connections

KARACHI:

The Sui Southern Gas Company disconnected over 500 domestic connections for using gas directly through the rubber pipes.

A customer relations department team led by the general manager, Mujtaba Ahmed, raided the densely populated Al-Asif Square in Sohrab Goth. According to the figures given by the officials, gas worth Rs5 billion (37,220 million cubic feet) was being stolen annually in and around the complex. Over 15 local restaurants were found running their operations by using illegal connections in the raid, while a number of sewing factories were involved in stealing gas to run heavy generators.

The Al-Asif Square Residents’ Association reportedly cooperated with the SSGC team and informed them that they were facing tremendous hardships in paying their bills and getting their connections restored.

In response to their problems, Ahmed announced that a camp would be set up in the area at least twice a week to help the residents pay their bills through easy installments and settle their complaints on the spot.

The residents were told that defaulters can get their connections restored the same day they settle their outstanding payments.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2013.