KARACHI: The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has claimed to have unearthed a large-scale gas theft operation at an apartment complex, where stolen gas was being stored in large balloons to run generators for power supply to hundreds of apartments and shops.

According to a spokesperson of the gas utility, the Counter Gas Theft Operations (CGTO) team, along with SSGC Police, conducted a raid at the Gulshan View Apartments on Abul Hasan Ispahani Road on Wednesday and found two 33KVA gas generators and one 41.3 KVA generator being operated illegally by tapping gas lines.

“The generators were reportedly supplying electricity to approximately 300 apartments and 100 shops within the complex,” she added.

The spokesperson said that during the operation, the CGTO officials also found three gas balloon storage units fitted with plastic valves that were leaking.

The faulty units posed a serious safety hazard and could have caused a fire or explosion, she said, adding: “The units, along with their kits and batteries, were confiscated on the spot.”

The spokesperson said that the suspects were charging residents an advance of about Rs20,000 and a monthly fee of Rs2,000 for the unauthorised power.

An FIR has been registered against suspects Rehmatullah, Hayat Masood and Saleem Masood.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2026