SSGC continued to tighten the noose on gas theft miscreants through multiple targeted raids in Sindh and Balochistan.
In fresh operations conducted by the Company’s Security Services and Counter Gas Theft Operations (SS &CGTO) and Customer Relations departments’ teams, around 1,150 illegal domestic and commercial connections were removed in different cities and towns in the franchise areas.
In Karachi, theft control teams removed over 1,000 illegal domestic underground and overhead connections in North Karachi, Surjani Town, Shah Faisal Colony, Bahria Town, Korangi and Malir. In the pilferage cases, residents had illegally extended gas connections that were dismantled during the raids. The SSGC teams also killed service lines to prevent any further unauthorized use. Theft claims were summarily raised for the recovery of losses incurred.
The Honourable Special Judge Gas Utility Court, Karachi, convicted Ahmed and Kashif in two different cases of commercial theft through direct connection. Both accused were taken into custody, sentenced until the rising of the court, and fined following FIRs lodged at SSGC Police Station. The Law Officer, Prosecution Wing, SS&CGTO Karachi, contested the case.
SSGC’s theft control teams also conducted raids on houses involved in underground and overhead theft in Hyderabad, Nawabshah, and Larkana regions, removing 30 illegal domestic connections. Several fake meters were also removed during the raids. The reading teams removed theft clamps and rubber pipes used in pilferage. An FIR was lodged against culprits involved in domestic theft through a direct line in Jacobabad. Consequently, theft claims are being raised.
Meanwhile, in upper and lower Balochistan, the crackdown against gas theft miscreants continued. 120 overhead and underground illegal gas connections were removed in the Quetta, Kalat, Ziarat, and Kuchluk regions. More than five fake meters were also found disconnected. In addition, clamps and rubber pipes used in gas theft were removed and confiscated by the theft control teams. Theft claims have also been raised.
In the meantime, strict monitoring and vigilance of the gas theft-infested areas will be ensured to prevent repeated pilferage cases in the residential neighbourhoods of the cities mentioned above.
SSGC is laser-focused on controlling the menace of gas theft through regular raids and aggressive prosecution. Gas theft is one of the major reasons behind SSGC’s incurred Unaccounted-for gas (UFG) or line losses.
