Iron hand: Oil and gas theft becomes a crime as president approves bill

Maximum jail-term set at 14 years along with fine of Rs10 million.

ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Ali Zardari approved the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2011 on Monday that would empower authorities to jail and fine miscreants involved in oil and gas theft.

The Bill was approved by both houses of parliament before being tabled at the Presidency. President’s spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that the Bill sought to provide punishment for those involved in tampering petroleum pipelines and gas meters was forwarded to President Asif Ali Zardari by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Gas theft causes a loss of Rs20 billion while oil robbery results in a loss of Rs18 billion annually, according to petroleum ministry estimates.

The proposed amendment bill was lying with the finance committee since 1997 although it picked up pace recently as it was approved by the National Assembly last month.

Any person who wilfully tampers or helps in tampering with a main gas pipeline installation for termination or transportation will be punished with rigorous imprisonment which may be extended to 14 years along with a fine which may be go to up Rs10 million, according to the draft.

Tampering with auxiliary or distribution pipeline of petroleum for the purpose of theft or disrupting supply will be punished with jail-time between 5 to 10 years and a maximum fine of Rs3 million.

Meanwhile, tampering with any gas meter, regulator, meter index, gas connection or any other related system whether to commit theft of gas or for the purpose of unauthorised distribution shall be punishable, in case of a domestic consumer, for six months and a fine of Rs100,000.  In case of industrial and commercial consumer, fiddling with gas meters may extend to conviction of 5 to 10 years and a fine of Rs5 million.

Damaging a transportation line by an act of subversion by explosive material or in any other manner shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend up to 14 years and a fine with a minimum slab of Rs1 million which can go up to Rs10 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2011.

Correction: An earlier version of this story erroneously spelt Zardari as Zafari in the second paragraph. The correction has been made.