RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD: The task force of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) on Wednesday imposed a fine of Rs500,000 on people involved in gas theft in different localities of the capital, Murree, Fatehjang, Attock and Wah Cantt.

On the other hand, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco), during the ongoing campaign against defaulters, was able to recover Rs316.3 million from 20,708 consumers.

In a press release, a spokesman for the SNGPL said during a campaign against gas theft, the task force registered FIRs against a number of individuals involved in tampering with commercial meters and imposed heavy fines on them.

The spokesman said fine of more than Rs500,000 was imposed on commercial consumers in a single day on Wednesday.

He further revealed that under the Gas Theft Control and Recovery Act 2016, stringent penalties were being enforced against those causing damage to gas pipelines or related installations as well as gas thieves.

Under the act, individuals involved in damaging gas pipelines can face up to 14 years in prison and a fine of Rs10 million.

Similarly, individuals involved in damaging commercial or industrial meters can be sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined Rs5 million, while those involved in maliciously wasting gas can face seven years in prison and a fine of Rs5 million.

Individuals involved in damaging the gas distribution network through sabotage can be sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined Rs3 million, and those involved in damaging gas transmission lines through sabotage can be sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined Rs1 million.

Lastly, individuals involved in domestic gas theft are jailed for six months and fined Rs100,000.

Iesco recovers over Rs316m

Iesco has recovered a total amount of Rs316.3 million from 20,708 consumers during its campaign against power defaulters.

Iesco’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Mohammad Amjad Khan, in a statement on Wednesday, said besides disconnecting meters of non-paying customers, police had also arrested several defaulters.

Following the instructions of the government and Ministry of Energy for the recovery of electricity dues from running and dead defaulters, Iesco recovery teams were carrying out indiscriminate and intensive action in all operation circles of Iesco.

The Islamabad circle collected more than Rs2.13 million from 129 customers on October 3, according to an official statement. Moreover, the Rawalpindi City circle recovered more than Rs0.72 million, while the Jhelum circle collected over Rs0.65 million from 29 customers. The Chakwal Circle was able to recover more than Rs0.52 million from 42 customers while the Rawalpindi Cantt Circle collected Rs1.25 million from 32 defaulters.

Dr Khan has conveyed to consumers that they should pay their electricity bills on time as responsible citizens. He also issued instructions to the field officers that recovery of electricity dues from the defaulters should be ensured in all cases, and any kind of negligence or laziness in that regard would be unacceptable.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2023