By Aziz Khatri
KARACHI: Registered contractors of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) have expressed concern over the termination of their contracts, the non-return of security deposits and what they described as a lack of progress by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), warning that they may approach the courts again.
Mohsin Ali Khan, general secretary of the SSGC Registered Contractors Association, said contractors affiliated with the association had been providing services to the company for nearly 50 years. He alleged that the company management had terminated their contracts and stopped them from working without adequate justification or prior notice.
The association challenged the decision in the High Court, which, after hearing the case, referred the matter to OGRA for review and a decision. Khan said association representatives subsequently met OGRA senior executive director Misha Yaqub at the regulator’s office, where the contractors’ position was heard in detail.
They were assured that a decision would be taken soon, the association would be informed and minutes of the meeting would be provided.
He said contractors were also assured that they would be allowed to submit test forms, but the forms were not being accepted in practice.
Despite considerable time having passed since the meeting, Khan said the association had received neither the minutes nor a final decision. Several written applications and reminders had also been submitted to OGRA, but no clear progress had been made, he said.
According to the association, contractors’ offices remain operational, with staff, supervisors and fitters still employed and expenses continuing to accumulate, while they have not been allowed to resume work by SSGC. The situation, Khan said, had created serious difficulties for contractors and the families dependent on them.
He urged OGRA and SSGC management to take immediate steps to resolve the dispute and provide relief to the contractors.
Khan warned that if no positive progress was made on their demands, the association would approach the High Court again and pursue other legal options to protect the livelihoods of contractors who had worked with the company for decades and the families dependent on them.
