A multinational mobile phone company operating in Pakistan has been caught red-handed stealing gas from a main pipeline in Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to a First Information Report (FIR) filed by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) against the operator, the distributor recently launched a massive crackdown against gas pilferers on the direction of the federal government.
According to an SNGPL spokesperson, the company’s regional team raided the mobile phone tower in district Karak of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where it was revealed that the generator for the mobile phone tower was operated through an illegal gas connection.
The FIR revealed that the tower is operated by Jazz. The staff deputed at the tower was using a 200 ft pipe to steal gas from the main 8-inch gas line. Consequently, the SNGPL team confiscated the company’s generator, pipe, and other equipment used for gas theft.
The gas distributor has also lodged an FIR against the staff of the telecom company.
A spokesperson from Jazz told ProPakistani, “Jazz is fully compliant with all applicable laws and operates its network using legitimate electricity or fuel arrangements nationwide. To this end, Jazz has established agreements with third-party vendors for generator fueling at sites as a backup power solution. Additionally, Jazz does not operate any sites in Pakistan using natural gas, and strongly refutes any such claims.”
“Meanwhile, the company has initiated an internal investigation to gather more details about the specific site in question and will take necessary action accordingly. Attempts to tarnish the reputation of a multinational company that has invested over $10.5 billion in the country with baseless allegations will be treated with utmost seriousness,” he added.
