‘Police stations to be set up in Karak, Peshawar to check gas theft’

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has proposed setting up of two police stations in the provincial capital and Karak district to stop the theft of natural gas, a source told The News.

The source said that the issue was far more serious in Karak as the top bosses were told during a meeting that illegal taping from the high transmission line in the district was causing around Rs23 million per day loss to the national exchequer. Besides, taping from the high transmission line poses a serious threat to the lives of people and properties in the area.

"The Home Departments, the KP Police, SNGPL and district administration in a meeting regarding the gas theft suggested expediting work on setting up two police stations, one in the provincial capital and another in Karak. Apart from the gas theft, illegally getting connections from the high transmission line is a serious issue that can be addressed only with the support of the police," a source stated while quoting the minutes of meetings at the Home Department.

The meeting also suggested that the Frontier Constabulary should continue working as second line of defence along with the police in going after the criminals.

The deputy commissioner, Karak, was directed to take action against the miscreants in the district under 3-MPO, but another member in the meeting pointed out that this can lead to a law and order situation.

The source said that the meeting held on March 20 was chaired by the special secretary Home department and attended by the concerned administrative and police officers and senior officials of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).

The KP Police, following the meeting, proposed to the government to set up dedicated police stations on the pattern of Pesco where policemen work under the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) to check electricity theft.

"The SNGPL has committed to bear the expenses, building and vehicle for the police stations. The requirement will be sent to the authorities of the SNGPL for a go-ahead," stated a letter from the Central Police Office. The letter also suggested involving the district administration and elders to address the issues in Karak.

The deputy commissioner told the meeting that elders and people of Karak have been meeting him for provision of legal gas connections as they are still deprived of it due to non-availability of the gas pipelines and funds. "The general manager SNGPL was satisfied with the Karak Police but desired further action as the loss caused by the illegal gas connections is quite high and Prime Minister Imran Khan has also taken notice of it," stated another source quoting an official letter.