Tarbela Ghazi: A shocking case of negligence by a meter reader of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in Haripur has surfaced, leaving an elderly citizen from Mian Dheri village, Tehsil Ghazi, burdened with an exorbitant gas bill. The aged and impoverished Shah Ghulam Asghar received a bill amounting to Rs. 83,630, based on an incorrect meter reading.
The bill, dated January 3, 2025, records a reading of 10,590, whereas the actual meter reading on January 29, 2025, stands at 10,328. When the elderly citizen approached the Ghazi office for rectification, he was directed to either Haripur or Abbottabad for resolution. Given his physical condition and financial constraints, traveling to Haripur—where private transport costs range between Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000—is an insurmountable challenge for him.
Upon intervention by Chairman VC Council Shah Ali Mardan, XEN Haripur Ahsan Shah initially requested the bill to be sent via WhatsApp for review. However, despite repeated follow-ups, no response has been received for two consecutive days.
In light of this grave injustice, we urge GM SNGPL Islamabad, Mr. Adnan, to take immediate notice of the situation and initiate disciplinary action against the meter reader and all responsible officials. Such incidents must be addressed to ensure that no citizen has to endure unnecessary distress due to administrative negligence.
