KARACHI (September 18, 2025) — Authorities have uncovered a bizarre and dangerous method of gas theft in Larkana, where suspects were siphoning gas and storing it in plastic balloons to generate electricity.
According to officials, two men were caught red-handed during an anti-theft raid conducted by the Sui Southern Gas Company’s (SSGC) Larkana Region Theft Section along with the Distribution Shikarpur team. The raid took place on Siddiq Mari Circular Road in Shikarpur, where the accused identified as Mehtab Ali Soomro and Ijaz Shah were found illegally extracting gas.
Investigators revealed that the men were tapping gas directly from a riser piece beneath the service valve and using it to run a 15-kilowatt generator. The electricity produced was then supplied to local shops and homes on a commercial basis.
In a makeshift arrangement, the suspects had also filled two large plastic balloons with stolen gas, which were later connected to the generator at night during gas profiling hours to avoid detection.
The SSGC stated that the stolen connected load amounted to approximately 188 cubic feet per hour. An FIR has been registered against both suspects, and authorities confirmed that the financial losses incurred will be recovered from them.
Officials have described the operation as both reckless and hazardous, warning that such practices not only cause huge economic damage but also put entire neighborhoods at risk of fire and explosions.
