Committee activated to check power theft in Pindi
SNGPL official says 250 illegal meters, 47 connections on main lines detected in Islamabad

RAWALPINDI: A massive crackdown against gas theft has been launched and 250 illegal meters and 47 illegal connections from main lines have been disconnected on the outskirts of Islamabad.

On the other hand, a divisional committee formed by the Punjab government to check electricity theft has been activated in Rawalpindi.

Addressing a press conference at his office, SNGPL Islamabad General Manager(GM) Azhar Rasheed said a special task force formed to carry out the crackdown on gas theft had been provided with more resources and law enforcement agencies were also cooperating with it.

Mr Rasheed said 250 illegal gas meters and 47 illegal connections from the direct supply lines were detected, adding raids were conducted in Tarnol and Bhara Kahu during which FIRs were registered against 34 people.

The official said six cases related to theft of gas and 754 to recovery of outstanding dues were under trial in different courts. “Several people were sent to Adiala jail after their bailswere cancelled,” he said.

Mr Rasheed revealed that Rs93 million fines were imposed and Rs70.54 million received through legal action so far this year.

He said that under the gas theft and recovery act, the illegal use of gas and disrupting supply and damaging gas installations was a crime and liable to up to 14 year imprisonment and a fine of Rs10m, if convicted.

To a question, the GM said none of the officials of the gas department can dare to install illegal or stolen gas meters to any new consumer. However, he said there was a mafia who stole meters and installed them on houses of new consumers after getting a handsome amount.

“Sometimes, daily wage employees after their dismissal from the job become a tool of such mafia,” he said

A senior engineer of the SNGPL said there were 758 defaulters of gas bills; however, the number of government departments was less.

He recalled the gas supply to the Sihala police station had been disconnected due to non-payment and was still suspended.

To a question, he said the issue of outstanding gas bills of Rawalpindi Police Lines was still not resolved and negotiations between the police department and finance department were going on.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi police have swung into action to launch a crackdown against electricity thieves and directed all SPs and SDPOs to ensure immediate registration of FIRs about theft of electricity and arrest the suspects.

Following the directive by the caretaker Punjab government, City Police Officer Syed Khalid Hamdani on Friday directed all SPs, SDPOs and SHOs to immediately register FIRs of theft of electricity.

He also directed the police to immediately arrest the suspects involved in the electricity theft and challan should be submitted to court without delay.

All under investigation cases related to electricity theft should also be updated.

The police were also directed to send details of electricity theft cases to the CPO control room at 11pm on a daily basis.

Committee to check power theft activated

A five-member Divisional Implementation Committee formed by the Punjab government to check electricity theft was activated in Rawalpindi on Friday.

The committee decided to start action in two phases. In the first phase, commercial consumers will be checked followed by action against domestic consumers.

The Punjab government on September 7 constituted an electricity theft monitoring and control committee at the provincial level and later divisional implementation and district enforcement committees were formed.

The secretary energy is head of the committee at provincial level, while commissioners are leading the committees at the divisional level and deputy commissioners at the district level.

In Rawalpindi division, Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha is convener of the committee while Regional Police Officer Syed Khurram Ali is member besides representatives of Special Branch and Iesco. The committee will include another member in the committee.

According the terms of reference of the committee, it will form policy for actions against electricity theft, coordinate with all stakeholders to minimise electricity theft, monitor the performance of the district committee and prepare a report for the provincial government on a weekly basis.

In the first meeting, the committee was informed that line losses or electricity theft was 7 per cent which means that electricity theft was less in Rawalpindi compared to other divisions. But the committee was determined to eliminate it completely.

Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha while presiding over the meeting said that zero policy would be adopted against elements involved in power theft.

He said that a list of electricity thieves had been compiled with the help of the Special Branch. The commissioner directed that all the deputy commissioners should take the lead along with Iesco officials to arrest the big fish at first. The first phase will be against commercial and the second phase against domestic consumers.

He said a toll-free number should be provided to the public for complaints about electricity theft in all districts so that wherever there is such a complaint the citizens can immediately bring it to the notice of the concerned authorities.

The commissioner said that not only the public but also many officials of the institution were involved in electricity theft and the citizens as well as the country have to bear the brunt of this loss.

Mr Chatha directed to create a WhatsApp group immediately for better coordination among the deputy commissioners, DPOs and Iesco officials in each district so that they can report their activities promptly.

Speaking on the occasion, Iesco Chief Executive Officer Dr Amjad said investigation against 250 Wapda officials and officers suspected of electricity theft had been completed and necessary actions was to be taken. He said that among the commercial users special attention should be given to threshers.

Dr Amjad said people should support the crackdown on electricity theft. If there is a complaint of electricity theft or any lineman or officer asks for bribe, it should immediately be reported on the toll-free number, he said.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2023