Guide
Utility Connections and Approvals: Why K-Electric and SSGC Can Be Blocked
By Maham Imtiaz
Real Estate AnalystVerified author
10 min read
In Karachi, an electricity meter or a gas connection is not proof that a building is legal, but the lack of one is often a sign that it is not. Under the Sindh Building Control Ordinance, no utility company may connect a building that lacks an approved completion plan. K-Electric now asks for a completion plan in SBCA areas, SSGC asks for approved plans with QR codes, and the Sindh High Court has told all three utilities to stop connecting unauthorised buildings. Buyers who move into a flat or house without checking can find themselves with no meter, no gas and no legal way to get them.
Utilities sit at the point where the building layer meets daily life. Our guide on how to verify property in Karachi explains that every building needs an approved plan and completion record, and utility companies now check for exactly those documents before connecting.
This guide explains the law that blocks utility connections, what K-Electric and SSGC require, what the courts have ordered, the common reasons a connection is refused, and what buyers should check before paying.
The law: section 18-G
| Provision | What it says |
|---|---|
| Section 18-G(i), Sindh Building Control Ordinance 1979 | Utility services, including electricity, gas, water and sewerage connections, are not to be provided unless an approved completion plan is produced |
| Section 18-G(ii) | Sale deeds or leases of new premises are not to be registered without an approved completion plan |
| Cantonments and DHA | Their own approvals and completion certificates take the place of SBCA's |
The rule ties utilities to the same document that makes a building lawful. A building without a completion plan should not, in law, have a meter.
What K-Electric asks for
K-Electric's new connection application lists these documents, depending on the property:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ownership proof | Registry or revenue document for the premises; registered documents for every plot if plots are amalgamated |
| Approved plan | Completion plan with certificate in SBCA areas, or approved building plan in non-SBCA areas |
| Layout plan | Approved housing scheme or area layout plan with a covering letter |
| DHA NOC | For DHA Phases VII Extension, VIII and VIII Extension |
| Society NOC | Where the property is in a housing society |
| Tenants | Landlord's NOC, landlord's identity card copy and tenancy agreement |
| Affidavit | On Rs200 stamp paper, attested |
| Test form | From a licensed Electric Inspector of Karachi or authorised contractor, after payment |
What SSGC asks for
The federal government banned new domestic gas connections in 2021 and lifted the ban in September 2025, allowing new connections on re-gasified LNG at a tariff set by OGRA. SSGC's announcement sets out the terms.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Approved plans | Approved proposed and completion plans, with QR code, letter and drawing, plus any required NOCs |
| Ownership | Attested ownership documents; tenants need a tenancy agreement and landlord's NOC |
| Society or authority NOC | Original NOC where applicable |
| Pipeline | An SSGC pipeline must already exist in front of the premises |
| No litigation | No pending dispute restraining gas supply at the premises |
| Arrears | Any outstanding dues must be disclosed and are the applicant's responsibility |
| Tariff | Applicant must accept the RLNG tariff and not demand a natural gas connection |
| Compliance | Applicant is responsible for SBCA, cantonment or DHA rules; SSGC may disconnect for false documents |
| Charges in Sindh | Plot up to 300 sq yd | Plot over 300 sq yd |
|---|---|---|
| New connection | Rs1,500 | Rs3,000 |
| Gas supply deposit | Rs20,000 | Rs20,000 |
| Sales tax | Rs225 | Rs450 |
| Stamp duty | Rs1,000 | Rs1,000 |
| Total | Rs22,725 | Rs24,450 |
The customer also pays for internal pipework, which must meet OGRA's standards. SSGC says it has not authorised any contractor to collect applications or payments.
What the courts have ordered
| Date | Order |
|---|---|
| September 2021 | In CP D-5297 of 2021, residents alleged a builder took bulk water and gas connections and installed thousands of gas meters without permission, and that K-Electric refused meters because subleases had not been executed; the court sent the factual dispute to the proper forum |
| December 2023 | Sindh High Court directed that no gas, power or water connection be given to any premises unless the applicant produces the approved completion plan in original; the water corporation's CEO undertook not to connect unauthorised buildings |
| February 2024 | In CP D-478 of 2024, the court said utility agencies such as K-Electric issuing connections to illegal constructions was contrary to section 18-G and misled buyers about legality |
The Sindh High Court's reasons in CP D-478 of 2024 put the buyer's risk plainly: "persons who are purchasing units in such constructions are misled as to the legality" when they see utilities in place. The same order refused a policy to regularise older illegal buildings.
Why a connection can be blocked
| Reason | What it means |
|---|---|
| No completion plan | The building or floor was never completed under an approved plan |
| Extra floors | Floors beyond the approved plan have no completion record |
| Ownership not proved | No registered deed, lease or sublease in the applicant's name |
| Sublease not executed | Common in flats where the builder has not executed individual subleases |
| Missing society or DHA NOC | Society dues or DHA requirements not cleared |
| No SSGC pipeline | Gas network not laid in front of the premises |
| Litigation | A court order restraining supply to the premises |
| Arrears | Previous owner's unpaid bills on the premises |
| Bulk connection only | Builder's single connection instead of individual meters |
| Undeclared katchi abadi or goth | No lawful title or approved plan to show |
Our guide to why no unit should be registered without an SBCA completion certificate explains why the completion document now unlocks both registration and utilities.
What existing meters do and do not prove
| What you see | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| Individual meter in the seller's name | Connection was approved at some point; still check the completion plan |
| Meter in the builder's name | Unit may never have been separately connected or subleased |
| Bulk meter for the building | Individual connections may be refused later |
| No gas meter in a new building | Plan may lack completion, or the area may lack a pipeline |
| Meter on an upper floor added later | That floor may not be approved |
A meter shows that a connection exists, not that the building is lawful. Courts have recorded utilities connecting illegal buildings.
What buyers should check
- Ask for the approved building plan and completion plan in original, or the board or DHA completion certificate in a cantonment.
- Match the floor you are buying to the floors in the completion plan.
- Check every meter's name and account number and whether it is individual or bulk.
- Ask each utility for arrears on the account before paying.
- Check sublease or title is in the seller's name, since utilities ask for it.
- For gas, confirm the pipeline in front of the building and whether the connection is natural gas or RLNG.
- Plan the name change of each connection after purchase, with the ownership documents each utility needs.
Many of these checks are easier if the project's approvals are confirmed first. Our guide on how to check if a Karachi project is SBCA-approved explains how.
What the numbers show: Milkiyat.com findings
The ban on new gas connections lasted about four years. From 2021 to September 2025: about 4 years.
The security deposit is almost 90% of SSGC's charges. Rs20,000 ÷ Rs22,725 = about 88% for a plot up to 300 square yards.
A larger plot pays Rs1,725 more for gas. Rs24,450 − Rs22,725 = Rs1,725, or about 7.6% more.
One builder allegedly installed thousands of unapproved gas meters. Residents told the court in 2021 that 4,000 to 5,000 meters were installed without permission.
Two separate rules hinge on one document. Section 18-G blocks both utility connections and registration of new premises without an approved completion plan.
Checklist before you pay
| Check | Where |
|---|---|
| Approved and completion plans | SBCA, cantonment board or DHA |
| Floor you are buying is approved | Completion plan |
| Individual meters in seller's name | Utility bills |
| No arrears on any account | K-Electric, SSGC, water corporation |
| Sublease or title in seller's name | Sub-registrar and land authority |
| Gas pipeline and connection type | SSGC |
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Can K-Electric refuse a new connection?
A. Yes. In SBCA areas it asks for a completion plan with certificate, and section 18-G bars connections to buildings without an approved completion plan.
Q2. Is SSGC giving new gas connections?
A. Yes, since the ban was lifted in September 2025, but new domestic connections are on RLNG at OGRA's RLNG tariff, and need approved plans and an existing pipeline.
Q3. How much does a new SSGC connection cost in Sindh?
A. Rs22,725 for plots up to 300 square yards and Rs24,450 for larger plots, including a Rs20,000 deposit, plus internal pipework.
Q4. Does having a meter mean the building is legal?
A. No. Courts have recorded utilities connecting illegal buildings. Check the completion plan regardless of existing meters.
Q5. Why can't I get a meter in my new flat?
A. Common reasons are no completion plan for the building or floor, no sublease in your name, a bulk connection by the builder, or missing society NOCs.
Q6. Do cantonment and DHA properties need SBCA completion for utilities?
A. No. They need the cantonment board's or DHA's completion certificate and any NOC the utility asks for, such as DHA's NOC in certain phases.
Q7. What did the Sindh High Court order about utility connections?
A. In December 2023 it directed that no gas, power or water connection be given unless the approved completion plan is produced in original.
This guide is for general information. Utility requirements, charges and court orders change, and buyers should confirm every connection, arrears and approval with K-Electric, SSGC, the water corporation, the building authority and a qualified professional before paying.