Claim: SSGC has announced a new daytime gas load-shedding schedule in Karachi.
Fact: The message is false. The SSGC has termed it ‘fake news’ in a statement issued on 18 May 2023.
On 18 May 2023, Soch Fact Check received a WhatsApp message claiming the Karachi-based Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSCG) had announced a new daytime gas load-shedding schedule.
The message contained the screenshot of a post (archive) by Facebook page ‘Karachi Alerts’, which states:
“کراچی کے شہریوں کے لئے برُی خبر۔۔۔ ایس ایس جی سی نے گیس لوڈ شیڈنگ کے دورانیے میں اضافہ کر دیا، رات کے بعد دن میں بھی گیس کی لوڈ شیڈنگ شروع
شہر میں روزانہ دوپہر 2بجے سے شام 5 بجے تک گیس بند کی جائے گی، شہر کے مختلف علاقوں میں پہلے ہی رات 11 سے صبح 7 بجے تک گیس بند کی جارہی ہے۔
سوئی سدرن گیس کمپنی کے مطابق 200 ایم ایم سی ایف ڈی گیس کی کمی کا سامنا ہے ۔ نظام میں گیس کی فراہمی معمول پر آتے ہی دوپہر کے اوقات میں گیس کی لوڈ شیڈنگ ختم ہوجائیگی۔
Bad news for the citizens of Karachi. The SSGC has increased the duration of gas load-shedding. After gas load-shedding at night, it will also be done during the day.
Gas will be shut off in the city daily from 2 pm to 5 pm. In different areas of the city, gas is already being shut off from 11 pm to 7 am.
According to Sui Southern Gas Company, there is a shortage of 200 MMcf/d [million cubic feet per day] of gas. Gas load-shedding in the daytime will end as soon as the gas supply in the system returns to normal.”
Fact or Fiction?
The SSGC tweeted a statement refuting the viral reports about a new gas load-shedding schedule.
In its tweet, the SSGC said it “denies fixing any gas closure schedule”. It explained that on 17 May 2023, the company’s “line pack was severely impacted that in turn affected gas supply in certain localities” due to reduced gas pressure but that it was “restored by 6 pm”.
SSGC denies fake news of gas closure schedule.#MediaAlert #SSGC pic.twitter.com/9upnyRLMNv
— SSGC Official (@SSGC_Official) May 18, 2023
“It is pertinent to note that due to an annual 10% depletion of gas reserves, which is purely a supply side phenomenon, gap in the demand and supply has widened, even during the summers, placing SSGC in a taxing situation,” it wrote. “Due to these reasons, customers in certain localities may face gas pressure issues.”
Virality
Soch Fact Check found that the false claim appeared here, here, here, here, and here on Facebook. It was also shared here, here, here, here, and here on Twitter.
Conclusion: The claim that the SSGC has announced a new daytime gas load-shedding schedule in Karachi is false. The company has termed it ‘fake news’.
Background image in cover photo: Mykola Makhlai
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