Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA: In a landmark decision, the Balochistan High Court has directed the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) to implement immediate changes in its billing practices, following a constitutional petition filed by Advocate Syed Nazir Agha against the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Government of Pakistan.
A two-member bench comprising Senior Judge of the BHC Mr. Justice Kamran Khan Malakhail and Mr. Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kasi heard the petition and ordered SSGCL to adhere to the recommendations outlined in the commission’s report. “The court directs the Chief Secretary Balochistan, a member of SSGCL’s Board of Directors, to ensure the implementation of this order,” stated Justice Malakhail.
SSGCL was instructed to stop issuing provisional bills, hidden charges, and additional fees without regular meter readings. “Provisional bills and extra charges such as PUG/Colometer fees have unfairly increased costs for consumers,” remarked Justice Kasi. The court also directed that gas billing should resume from April 2024 without any concealed charges, and no gas meter removals should occur without 24 hours’ prior notice to the consumer.
The hearing revealed that SSGCL had proposed to the Federal Government to revise the limit for protected and unprotected consumers through the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). This proposal included increasing the protected consumer limit for Balochistan from 90 CM to 360 CM, which would significantly affect monthly bills, especially during winter.
Former SSGCL member Nawabzada Riaz Noshirwani informed the court that the SSGCL Board of Directors approved a fixed flat rate for natural gas in Balochistan. The new rates are Rs. 2,551 per month for summer (April to October) and Rs. 8,848 per month for winter (November to March), ensuring the annual bill does not exceed Rs. 62,097.
The court also acknowledged the pending disputed amounts, allowing consumers to pay only 10% of the disputed bills until the issue is resolved. The final hearing is scheduled for July 31, 2024, when further compliance and progress reports will be reviewed.
