KARACHI, Feb 10: In response to a news item in the Feb 9 issue of Dawn, the Sui Southern Gas Company has said that the billing function is running smoothly and is secured by internal checks and controls.

According to an SSGC press release, the gas billing in recent months has been, as always, based on actual consumption of individual consumers. “Gas bills are greater in demand in winter than summer due to more use by the consumers on account of use of water heaters/room heaters etc and also increase in gas consumed for cooking and other normal purposes because of reduced atmospheric pressure,” it explains.

Our reporter adds: The news report was based on consumer complaints. The SSGC spokesman, Abid-uz-Zafar, was also contacted but he did not give his company’s version.