Rs11 billion lost to gas theft last year

Four officials and 81 CNG stations found involved.

ISLAMABAD: Sui Northern Gas Company Limited (SNGCL) lost Rs11 billion to gas theft amounting to 37,000 MCF in the year 2008-09, sources claimed. Around 81 CNG stations, which are owned by influential people and four officials of the gas company, were found involved in the scam.

This revelation was made in a confidential report on corruption and gas theft investigations by the Federal Investigation Agency. Later, the findings were also confirmed in a report by SNGCL’s General Manager of Lahore Region.

The FIA report revealed that 70 per cent CNG stations, 20 per cent industries, five per cent commercial and five per cent households were involved in gas theft. In 2008-09, Rs11 billion worth of gas was stolen. Around 81 CNG stations from Islamabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur were involved in the crime and investigations against 22 were underway. An estimate shows that these stations alone stole around Rs256 million worth of gas.

The ‘source’ report also demanded strict action against those involved in corruption and gas theft. To prevent such acts in the future, it recommended testing laboratories and computerised metres.

In the report available made to The Express Tribune, it was said that Deputy Director (Crime) FIA, in a letter, dated 24 June, 2009, to the secretary of petroleum asked him to take action against the people responsible for corruption and gas theft.

Director (Technical) of petroleum ministry, Mansoor Muzaffar, then directed the Managing Director (MD) SNGCL to clarify the position of the organisation over the scam.

The MD told Muzaffar that acting upon the report, a fact finding inquiry had been initiated on those allegedly involved in corruption.

Thereafter, a three-member committee was formed. Headed by Muzaffar, it was given the task of conducting a detailed investigation of the matter.

Deputy Managing Director Abrar Ahmed and In charge Gujranwala Mehmood Zia were also included in the committee. On the directives of then adviser on petroleum Dr Asim, four more officials, namely Raza Mansha, Muhammad Arif, Irfan Zafar and Zulqarnain were added to the committee.

As per findings by the team, six officials were found involved in corruption. General Manager Human Resource also confirmed four officials, namely, Shahid Pervaiz, Nabiullah Khan, Shehzada Shafqat Raza and Azhar Abbas, and said that they were ‘Career Team Employees’ of the company.

Furthermore, the company General Manager Lahore Region was asked to prepare an updated account of the losses and gas theft in the area.

The information regarding gas theft and details regarding appointments made on the basis of political influence in the past three years was also handed over to the SC.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st,  2011.