Sui Northern Gas Company has recently implemented a significant levy on consumers, adding monthly fixed charges to their November bills.
Reportedly, the company, in collaboration with Ogra, found a method to cover its losses by imposing what amounts to billions of rupees in taxes on consumers under the guise of fixed charges.
Per sources, Ogra has permitted the collection of these fixed charges. As per the new regulations, consumers using 0.9 hectares of gas will face fixed charges of Rs 400 monthly, while non-protected gas users using up to 1.5 hectares will bear an additional bill of Rs 1000 per month. Those consuming beyond this threshold will be subject to an added fixed amount of Rs 2000 monthly.
Notably, even customers with zero gas consumption will be liable to pay Rs 400 under these fixed charges, as stated by Sui Gas officials. These monthly fixed charges have received government approval and can apparently only be challenged by consumers in the High Court. This levy is estimated to impact around 8 million gas consumers, generating an annual revenue of approximately 60 to 70 billion rupees.
