Civil society moves court against hike in gas meter rent

May 11, 2023

SWAT: Civil society here have challenged the increase in gas meter rent by the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in the consumer protection court.

The writ petition was submitted here the other day in the Swat consumer protection court by Dr Khalid Mahmood, a social and political activist and member of Swat Qaumi Jirga.

SNGPL, in a recent notification, increased the monthly meter rent from Rs40 to Rs500, and under the new rules, consumers are bound to pay a minimum bill of Rs500 per month, even if they do not use gas. The utility stated that the increased charges would be applicable from January 2023 and the gas consumers would have to pay the arrears in their fresh bills.

"This is injustice with the poor people, who have to pay Rs500 per month as a fixed rent in their gas bills. We have challenged this unjust decision in the consumer court," said Dr Mahmood, adding the court had issued a notice to the SNGPL authorities to appear before it on May 25.

"SNGPL does not have the right to collect the price of goods or rent from the gas consumers, so the court should cancel this illegal rent collection," he said.

The applicants stated in the application that the fixed rent for gas meter was illegal as the consumers paid the charges of the gas meter at the time of its installation.

JOURNALIST REMEMBERED: Media persons here on Sunday said that Khalid Khan was a seasoned journalist and would be remembered for his services to society.

They expressed these views in a condolence session held at Swat Press Club in the memory of deceased Khalid Khan, the journalist hailing from Shangla, who had worked as a bureau chief for Khyber News in Malakand division.

Khalid Khan died in a road accident when a jeep hit him and two other persons on Saturday while walking along the roadside in Alpuri tehsil of Shangla district.

Journalists in Swat expressed deep sorrow over his sudden death and said that he was a professional journalist who always highlighted public issues. They said the deceased had outstanding services in the field of journalism. He always supported the oppressed and played an important role in highlighting regional issues.

They offered prayers and extended sympathy to the bereaved family.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2023

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