Extortion in the Name of Bills? SSGC and K-Electric Compete in Overcharging Karachi Citizens

Karachi: As Karachi faces an intensifying gas crisis, citizens are left frustrated — not only are they receiving inflated gas bills, but gas itself has become a rare commodity, forcing many to switch to expensive LPG cylinders for daily use.
According to sources, some officials from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) are allegedly facilitating illegal commercial use of residential gas connections across the city. These setups are being provided to hotels, tea stalls, and small businesses in exchange for hefty bribes — all while bypassing proper commercial tariffs, which are significantly higher than residential rates. This not only results in revenue loss for the company but ultimately places the burden of inflated costs on honest consumers.
This illegal practice mirrors the long-standing model used by K-Electric, where illegal electricity connections (kundas) are installed with the involvement of corrupt staff, and the financial cost of these thefts is then passed on to bill-paying citizens. Now, the same method seems to be taking root in the gas sector.
As a result, honest consumers in residential neighborhoods are forced to purchase costly LPG cylinders while restaurants with illegal connections continue to operate normally.
Serious concerns have also been raised about the transparency of SSGC’s billing system. One user from Akhtar Colony reported receiving a gas bill of Rs. 206,000 despite having no gas supply for several days. Upon downloading a duplicate bill from the company’s website, the amount listed was only Rs. 102,000 — highlighting glaring discrepancies in billing.
Multiple areas, including Bilal Colony, Manzoor Colony, Liaquatabad, Korangi, and Malir, are experiencing frequent and prolonged gas outages. Citizens complain that their stoves remain cold both in the morning and evening, yet they continue to receive full bills — in some cases, even higher amounts than before, despite having no gas at all.
Experts warn that SSGC now appears to be adopting the same exploitative model previously associated with K-Electric: limited service, high costs, and widespread corruption.
Frustrated citizens are calling on the Chief Justice of Pakistan, NAB, FIA, OGRA, and the Minister for Petroleum to initiate transparent investigations into the gas sector and take legal action against corrupt officials who are profiting at the expense of the public.