THIS is with reference to the editorial ‘Penalising the dutiful’ (May 19) and a letter “SSGC’s apathy” (May 22). The two pieces of writing put together make it clear that the state has made a habit of squeezing those who are dutiful about paying their dues, be it through taxation or utility bills.

I have received my bill this month from the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) amounting to Rs1,680. This included gas charges, meter rent and additional fixed charges of Rs1,000; about 60 per cent of the total bill.

When I enquired about these fixed charges from the SSGC helpline, I was informed that whenever gas consumed by any household exceeds 90mmBtu, the customer has to pay additional fixed charges of Rs1,000 per month in addition to the actual bill for another 12 months, provided the consumption remains below 90mmBtu for the whole year.

In case the customer consumes more than 90mmBtu gas any time during the next 12 months, the additional fixed charges of Rs1,000 are imposed once again and the next cycle of 12 months starts afresh. This is nothing but a vicious cycle aimed at forcing the customers to keep paying an additional Rs1,000 without any hope of getting one’s way out of it.

Will the SSGC or the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) or the relevant ministry explain the actual position? If the information passed on by the SSGC helpline is correct, this illegality needs to be terminated right away. Is there anyone even listening?

K.M. Shafi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2024