Mafia pilfering oil from PARCO line roams free

Eight cases have been registered but police remain clueless

KARACHI:

In a shocking revelation, it has been uncovered that a huge amount of oil has been stolen from the pipeline of a joint venture between Pakistan and Abu Dhabi, UAE. Even though eight cases have been registered within a year against an oil mafia, the law enforcement agencies have failed to apprehend the key figures behind the theft.

The joint venture comprises a 60% ownership by Pakistan government and a 40% ownership by Abu Dhabi through its investment company. The PARCO pipeline network, spanning 2,000 kilometers from Karachi to Machhi near Lahore, has become a hotspot for corruption involving both government institutions and mafia.

The mafia operates in an organised manner, stealing thousands of litres of petrol and diesel in a matter of minutes by tampering with the PARCO pipeline. The stolen fuel is then illicitly sold at various petrol pumps in Sindh. Despite the formation of more than three inquiry committees by Sindh police, the loss of billions of rupees to the public treasury persists.

Read: Theft attempt caused oil leak: PARCO

The mafia, responsible for causing significant financial losses to the exchequer, is active in Malir and Keamari districts. This mafia, comprising over 20 people, has successfully evaded the law enforcement agencies. Thefts from the pipeline have resulted in over eight registered cases against the mafia in Karachi within the past year.

Two mafia men lost their lives when buried under the soil while attempting to makestall an illegal connection on the pipeline. Despite these incidents, investigations have failed to identify the main culprits or get closer to the responsible for the multi-billion-rupee theft. Oil theft cases have been registered in Shah Latif, Sharifi Goth, Bin Qasim, Steel Town, and Derakhshan police station.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^th, 2024.