2,500 illegal gas connections cut off, three persons held

The SSGC’s relentless pursuit of gas theft miscreants has continued in the company’s franchise provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, the gas utility said in a press release on Thursday.

The company’s Security Services and Counter Gas Theft Operations (SS&CGTO) Wing, Customer Relations Department (CRD) and other regional and zonal teams removed over 2,500 illegal domestic connections in Karachi, Quetta, Hyderabad, Larkana, Nawabshah, Pishin, Kalat and other regions in upper and lower Sindh and Balochistan.

In addition, three individuals were arrested following raids on commercial set-ups, including a confectionery factory, a pakwan centre and a roadside restaurant and guest houses in Clifton, Karachi, as per the Gas (Theft Control and Recovery Act) 2016.

Most of the residents involved in gas theft had resorted to extensions from the main gas pipeline via rubber pipes and clamps, all of which were removed on the spot. More than 1,500 illegal underground and overhead connections were removed in Karachi followed by above 500 in Quetta, followed by dismantling in other cities and towns.

Summarily, theft claims have been raised against the miscreants in order to recover the losses incurred from the crimes committed. The theft control teams have also intensified vigilance and monitoring of the theft-infested areas. In addition, a mass media campaign has been launched covering television, print, radio and social media, with an aim to create deterrence against this major crime.

The SSGC is laser focused towards controlling the menace of gas theft through regular raids and aggressive prosecution. Gas theft is one of the major reasons behind Unaccounted-for-Gas (UFG) or line losses being incurred by the Company.