Sui Southern Gas Company limited is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year (2004). Over the past 50 years, the Company has made momentous progress and has brought the fruits of clean, low-cost and environment-friendly natural gas within the reach of over 1.7 million domestic, commercial and industrial customers all over Sindh and Balochistan. As a result, the Company has emerged as a leading fully integrated utility company that continues to play a major role in fuelling national progress.
Pakistan Post Office is pleased to present a beautifully designed postage stamp to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Sui Southern Gas Company.
In its Golden Jubilee Year, SSGC is honoured to provide natural gas to the people of Ziarat through the Ziarat Gas Supply project at a cost of Rs. 370 million. This stamp issue brings into focus the Ziarat Juniper Forest, where some trees are over 4,000 years old and are a valuable national heritage. The Company has been making concerted efforts to protect and preserve this wealth. This commemorative stamp underscores the concern that SSGC has for the environment and highlights the steps it is taking to conserve the nation's natural wealth.
SSGC
at a Glance
The Sui Southern Gas Company came into existence through merger of three
gas companies. The Sui Gas Transmission Company, which was incorporated
in 1954 and was engaged in operating a natural gas transmission pipeline
from Sui to Karachi, the Karachi Gas Company and Indus Gas Company, which
were set up in 1955 to build and operate gas distribution systems in Karachi
and Interior Sindh.
Today, half a century of professionalism and progress has made the SSGC one of the largest integrated natural gas transmission and distribution companies in Pakistan, serving the entire Southern region of the country, comprising the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan.
Well-Knit
Network
The Company's gas supply infrastructure consists of 2,786 kms of high
pressure transmission pipeline, 23,416 kms distribution network covering
over 737 towns and villages in Sindh and Balochistan.
Gas
Deliveries
SSGC achieved a major milestone by surpassing total gas flow in its system
of 1.2 billion cubic feet per day in June 2004.
It has doubled its gas transmission system capacity from 600 MMCFD to
1200 MMCFD at present.
Investing
in the Future
SSGC is poised to meet the challenges of the future. Based on strategic
investments, it has been aggressively upgrading its distribution and transmission
network in line with international standards at a phenomenal pace.
Some highlights of the action plan:
- Transmission and distribution system sustainable gas supply will be increased from 1200 MMCFD to 1800 MMCFD by 2007-2008 through expansion in the transmission network by 500 kilometres and extension of gas distribution system by 6400 kilometres.
- The infrastructure
will be expanded by implementing a core investment program of Rs. 34,533
billion covering major expansion of the transmission and distribution
network, to increase customer base by 330,137 over the next five years.
Developing
Human Assets
SSGC
believes that satisfied employees provide Quality service. SSGC provides
satisfaction of its employees and gives them adequate incentives to provide
high quality work.
Human Resource Development is one of the top priority areas at SSGC. The
company undertakes several initiatives to ensure induction and training
of professionals with the objective of ensuring high level of professionalism
and productivity of its employees.
Excellence
in Financial Performance
SSGC
is a Blue Chip Public Limited Company quoted on the stock exchange having
AA+ credit rating. The price of SSGC shares increased by 74.6% at KSE
by end June 2003. AS a result of the Company's improved performance, its
market capitalization had increased from Rs. 6.74 billion in 2001 to Rs.
14.13 billion in 2003. The Company's growth, profitability and efficiency
has given great confidence to its shareholders and attracted the attention
of investors.
Excellence
In Customer Service
The SSGC motto is 'Service with a Smile' and SSGC people strive to provide
un-matched and diverse services to customers through innovative and progressive
ideas in line with best international practices.
For speedy and efficient handling of customers'complaints, queries and suggestions, SSGC has developed Customer Facilitation Centers in all major towns and large population centres that provide fast and efficient response to customers'queries and complaints.
The
Company is also introducing innovative Pre-paid Gas Meters for convenience
of customers. Pre-paid meters offer such facilities as advance payment
and flexible payment and allow people to manage gas consumption at their
own convenience.
Edge
in Technology
Quest
for excellence and cutting-edge technology has played a key role in SSGC
expansion and strength.
Above
all, technology brings greater benefits to customers. For example, all
SSGC meter reading is now carried out through hand-held computers - saving
valuable time and minimizing errors.
SSGC's
computerized billing system prints bills through the online network in
the entire franchise areas.
Today,
SSGC is set to become the most IT enabled Company in the country. Realizing
the need for integration of IT into core business processes, the Information
Technology Department is rendering strong support to SSGC.
A
key initiative of this department is the implementation of the Geographic
Information System - a computer-based system that effectively provides
forecasting data for further strategy development.
Increasing
the efficiency of business processes is another priority area for SSGC.
An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software integrates all departments
and functions on to a single computer network.
Maintaining
its technological edge, SSGC has signed a comprehensive enterprise agreement,
with Microsoft - the only such agreement by a public sector utility company
in Pakistan.
Since the pipeline network forms the backbone of SSGC's operations, special steps have been taken towards ensuring maximum efficiency, such as PL Studio simulation software, which accurately simulates the large and complex pipeline network, driving higher performance, efficiency and financial viability of new projects.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications
plays a vital role in maintaining high operational efficiency at SSGC.
Through the advanced microwave digital network, and with video conferencing
facility, all SSGC offices and facilities remain connected 24 hours a
day.
Promoting
Safety
SSGC
is committed to the health and safety of its employees and preservation
of the environment in its areas of operation.
Its Health & Safety and Environment (HSE) management system ensures that the standards, processes and procedures needed to achieve safe operations are identified, implemented and maintained.
Emergency
Response Centers (ERCS)
ERCs
are working at six key locations at Karachi and Quetta terminals, Shikarpur,
Nawabshah, Dadu and Sibi Head Quarters. These are fully equipped to deal
with any emergency situation in case of transmission gas pipeline rupture/fire
resulting from sabotage, wars acts and similar activities.
Corporate Social Responsibility
The
company has always been committed in its obligation towards community
development of the areas where it is operating. These include:
- Cooperation with WWF for preservation of Mangroves Forests in the coastal areas of Karachi. SSGC is laying distribution gas pipelines in the village of Kakapir at Sandspit to provide an alternate fuel to reduce the cutting of endangered mangrove trees by the local villagers.
- Community centre at Ghari Khairo. The company will support the backward area of Ghari Khairo, by sponsoring social welfare projects for the local community.
- SSGC performs
its social responsibility function in Ziarat by providing support to
save the precious national assets of Juniper forests. The company is
laying a gas pipeline to Ziarat which will be completed in June this
year. In the mean time, it has provided LPG cylinders and stoves to
the residents of Ziarat.
Future
Plans
The
company recognises immense opportunities for further development of the
gas network, in order to meet the increasing demand in various sectors
in its franchise areas.
It has developed a five year strategic business development plan, the
key components of which are:
·
Expansion of transmission and distribution network for enhancement of
gas supply to power plants, industries and commercial sector including
supply of gas to previously deprived areas in the domestic sector.
· Customer satisfaction, innovation, quality services and promotion
of "Service with a smile" culture.
· Consistent appreciation in shareholder's value by increasing
the company's asset base and significant improvement in productivity and
efficiency.
· Business process re-engineedng (BPR), re-structuring of select
departments and implementation of ERP to provide effective M.I.S. for
business operations and control.
· Enterprise information system (EIS) and technology implementation
in all areas of business to make SSGC a "Most IT enabled Company".
· Human Resource development and empowerment of employees through
career planning and management/vocational training.
Community
support services and environmental protection initiatives to meet the
national and social responsibilities as a good corporate citizen.
Courtesy:
Sui Southern Gas Company.
SALIENT FEATURES
Size
of Stamp:
29 x 34mm
Size
of Print:
25 x 30 mm
Perforation:
13C
Denomination:
Rs. 4/-
Printing:
Multi Colours Litho Offset
Printing
Inks:
Cyan - Magenta - Yellow - Black by
M/s. Sicpa Inks Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd.
No.
of Stamps in each Sheet:
20 Stamps (5 x 4)
Paper
/ Grammage:
Chancellor Litho PVA Gum Paper 102 gsm
Paper
Manufacturer:
Tullis Russell Coaters UK
Colour
Separation Processed on:
Crossfield Drum Scanner/ Processor
Quantity:
0.5 Million
Design:
Courtesy: Sui Southern Gas Company
Printer:
Post Office Foundation Press, (Security Division) Karachi.