Owner flees: ‘Rs5m’ gas theft by foundry

GUJRANWALA: Sui Northern Gas officials on Wednesday discovered an illegal gas connection at a foundry they raided. The factory owner, Ashraf Bajwa, fled the scene. Task Force In-charge Sanaullah Tarar, Executive Engineer Muhammad Ashraf and Supervisors Muhammad Akbar, Nauman Nasar and Mansoor Ali Shah raided the foundry in Councillor Street. They said the owner had installed an underground pipe to a pipeline serving a commercial meter. Akbar said that the meter was installed two years ago, but initial investigation revealed that Bajwa had been stealing gas for 14 years. He said if this was true, Bajwa may have stolen gas worth Rs5 million in this time. A case was registered with Dhalay police.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2013.