RAHIM YAR KHAN: An electricity transformer installed at the Shaikh Zayed International Airport (SZIA) here was stolen by unidentified thieves after cutting the security fence early on Monday.

According to airport sources, the 50KV transformer, that was stolen, was installed at a hanger near south-eastern security fence, but it was not operational.

They said that a few months ago, another transformer was also stolen at the airport but the thieves could not be traced.

A senior airport management official requesting anonymity said the hanger was property of the Pakistan Air Force and the sole responsibility for its security was of Airport Security Force (ASF) according to ASF-1975-Act.

He said the airport administration has written many letters to the ASF headquarters about such theft incidents but to no avail.

He said that although the flight operations had been suspended at the airport for a few months and there was no passengers activity there, but the security of airport was always a priority.

The airport’s ASF Officer Commandant (OC) Sajjad Cheema, when contact, said the ASF spokesperson at its Karachi headquarters will comment on the issue. However, when he was asked to share the name and cell number of ASF spokesperson, he said that he will share it after getting the required information.

Till the filing of this report, the OC’s response was awaited.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2023