Man held for direct gas theft as 540 illegal connections cut off

The SSGC continued to tighten the noose on gas theft in its franchise provinces of Sindh and Balochistan through raids in numerous residential areas and commercial set-ups, arresting a man and severing 540 illegal connections.

Owner Latif of Al-Raziq Pakwan Hotel in Gulistan-e-Jauhar was arrested for running his business by using gas directly from the SSGC’s service line, following a raid undertaken by Security Services and Counter Gas Theft Operation (SS&CGTO) Wing. The total connecting load was estimated at 1,285 cft/hr. FIRs were lodged against Latif and accomplice Shafqat and theft claims are being raised accordingly to recover losses incurred by pilferage.

In fresh operations, more than 540 illegal connections were removed across various cities and towns by the SSGC’s gas theft control teams. The SS&CGTO Operation Wing, Karachi, raided guest houses in Clifton, Karachi and disconnected nine domestic meters that were being used for commercial activities. Theft claims are being raised.

In Karachi, theft control teams removed 342 illegal domestic underground and overhead connections in Maymar, Gulistan-e-Johar, Korangi, Ismail Panwar Goth, Landhi and adjoining areas. In Ismail Panwar Goth alone some 250 illegal connections were dismantled. In the majority of the cases, residents had illegally extended gas connections that were dismantled in swift operations. Service lines were also killed by the raiding teams to prevent any further unauthorized use. Summarily, theft claims are being raised.

Meanwhile, in upper and lower Balochistan, the crackdown against gas theft miscreants continued with removal of around 140 more illegal gas connections in Quetta and adjoining areas. A joint raid targeting domestic customers was undertaken in Sariab Zone that resulted in the disconnection of 92 illegal connections and removal of 12 fake meters in two housing societies. Theft claims are being raised. In the cantonment area in Quetta, 10 more fake meters and 24 illegal overhead connections were removed during an operation. Twenty-four more residential illegal connections were also removed in the Samungali zone.