A consumer court in Karachi on Thursday slapped a fine of Rs0.1 million on Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) in its verdict in a case filed by a citizen who had complained about the presence of water in the gas pipeline, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Umair Hussain, a resident of New Karachi, had filed a petition in the Consumer Protection Court East, in which he had stated that he was being supplied water instead of gas since 2018, and the situation had now forced him to use LPG cylinders instead, which were not only costly but also dangerous.

He had also complained that despite visiting SSGC office several times, his problem was not solved, due to which he was feeling upset. He prayed to the court to impose fine on the SSGC.

The court, besides imposing two fines of Rs50, 000 each on the company, also warned it that in case of default, the fine could go up to Rs200,000 and the defendant could also be awarded three years of imprisonment.

The court also ordered that one of the copies of the verdict be sent to OGRA.

Judicial Magistrate Javed Ali Korejo said that several people were confronting such types of issues. “SNGPL is ordered to provide all kinds of services to its consumers,” he said, and regretted that Umair, the petitioner, had to endure hardships for two years.