The Sui Southern Gas Company has been fighting the menace known as gas theft to curb the rising rate of this crime. The Security Services and Counter Gas Theft Operations Departments (SS&CGTO) together with Customer Relations Department (CRD) and Recovery Department, have been conducting multiple raids in order to apprehend the culprits behind these crimes.
Recently, the team raided a bakery, at Dhani Parto Goth, Malir, Karachi, where they found an illegal underground connection extended through a PVC pipe. Barkat Ali Lashari S/o Khameso Khan was arrested as the culprit and FIR has been registered against him. Meanwhile, in another raid at New Quetta Bismillah Hotel, Dhani Parto Goth, Malir, Karachi, gas theft was being carried out by directly puncturing SSGC’s service line. FIR has been registered against Dildar Ali S/o Sohna Khan who was arrested on spot for stealing gas.
In another raid at Dhani Parto Goth, Malir, Karachi, 2 culprits namely; Zameer Hussain and Shahzado Mastoi were arrested for stealing gas from SSGC’s 6-inch main distribution line, from which gas was being supplied to approximately 1,000 households. Culprits were charging Rs. 8,000 as advance and Rs. 2,000 as monthly payment per household. While the team was disconnecting these illegal connections, a mob gathered to resist the operation, however, with the intervention of Assistant Commissioner, the team was able to successfully disconnect all illegal connections.
The team also raided Kashan Nimco & Bakers, F.B Area, Karachi, where they found the meter tampered with to reverse the meter readings. FIR was registered against Muhammad Kashan Kalam S/o. Abdul Kalam. In another raid at Ali Muhammad Jokhio Goth, Bin Qasim, Karachi, a direct underground connection was found to be extended from SSGC’s 63mm distribution line, via which gas was being supplied illegally to 500 households. Culprits were charging Rs. 25,000/- as advance payment, and Rs. 1,500/- as monthly payment from each household. All illegal connections were removed on the spot, and FIRs have been registered against o Muneer Ahmed Soomro S/o Ali Nawaz Soomro, Pehlwan S/o Muhammad Mithal, o Aijaz S/o Muhammad Mithal.
It should be noted that gas theft is a serious crime against the community and strict action will be taken against all those who are involved in this crime. SSGC will continue to exercise a zero tolerance policy against gas theft and will keep carrying out surveys and raids where gas theft is identified. SSGC urges its esteemed customers to come forward and report incidences of gas theft so that this evil can be uprooted from the society.
