Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) has declared a 24-hour gas supply suspension affecting industrial consumers, effective from 8:00 AM on Sunday until 8:00 AM Monday. This interruption will impact both industries and captive power plants as part of the company’s gas load management strategy aimed at maintaining line-pack pressure within the network.
SSGC clarified that this temporary shutdown is essential for system improvements, although it is expected to disrupt industrial production during this period. Meanwhile, in a significant legal development, a Karachi court ordered SSGC to pay Rs30 million in damages related to a fatal gas pipeline explosion in Orangi Town in 2022.
The Senior Civil Judge (West) ruled that SSGC was negligent for not repairing the gas pipeline despite multiple complaints about leakage in the area. The lawsuit was filed by Alizeh, the daughter of the couple who lost their lives in the blast, initially seeking Rs90 million in compensation for her parents’ deaths. Her case was presented by Advocate Usman Farooq before the Senior Civil Judge at the City Court.
The claim emphasized that SSGC holds responsibility for gas supply and pipeline maintenance. The explosion occurred due to gas leakage from an SSGC pipeline which was not addressed promptly, resulting in severe burn injuries that caused the deaths of the couple and serious injuries to Alizeh’s siblings.
SSGC defended itself by denying that the leakage originated from its pipeline and argued that the plaintiff was not a registered consumer. However, the court dismissed this defense after an SSGC witness confirmed the authenticity of the gas cable presented by the plaintiff.
Invoking the Fatal Accidents Act, the court directed SSGC to pay Rs30 million in compensation within one month. The judgment highlighted that the explosion was caused by gas leakage and underscored the company’s failure to prevent the incident. The court stressed the crucial responsibility of gas utilities to ensure the safety of citizens’ lives and property, warning that negligence in this duty can lead to tragic consequences.
