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PESHAWAR : Due to alleged non-cooperation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, gas worth Rs4.294 billion was stolen in the southern districts of the province during the financial year 2025-26, while the gas loss rate increased by approximately 3.5 percent compared with the previous financial year, 2024-25.
According to official figures, gas worth approximately Rs357.8 million per month and around Rs11.8 million per day is being stolen on average in the southern districts.
Gas officials of the southern districts claim that gas theft is continuing due to the non-cooperation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, while gas theft is increasing because of the patronage of political leaders.
An explosion occurred early this morning near village Nashpa in Karak while an alleged illegal connection was being taken from a pipeline, seriously injuring several people, including children. According to reports, the alleged connection was being taken for stealing oil from an OGDCL flowline.
In the Karak Region comprising the southern districts, the overall gas loss rate was 37.07 percent in financial year 2024-25, which increased to 38.37 percent in financial year 2025-26. Thus, during one year, the loss rate increased by 1.30 percentage points, equivalent to an increase of approximately 3.5 percent.
According to the figures, a total of 3,380 MMCF of gas was lost during financial year 2024-25, with an estimated financial value of Rs5.07 billion. During financial year 2025-26, the quantity of gas lost decreased to 2,862.75 MMCF, while its value was recorded at Rs4.294 billion.
According to the document, the loss rate remained extremely high in the oil and gas producing districts, including Karak, Hangu and Shakardara. In financial year 2024-25, losses in this category stood at 1,414 MMCF, or 96.20 percent, while in financial year 2025-26, the quantity stood at 1,252 MMCF, or 95.58 percent. Thus, gas worth Rs1.8778 billion was stolen.
According to district-wise figures, the gas loss rate in Bannu was 45.12 percent in financial year 2024-25, which increased to 45.98 percent in financial year 2025-26. Gas worth more than Rs400 million was stolen in Bannu.
In Dera Ismail Khan and Tank, the combined gas loss rate increased from 13.24 percent in financial year 2024-25 to 14.56 percent in financial year 2025-26, while the quantity of gas lost increased from 131 MMCF to 154.75 MMCF.
In contrast, the gas loss rate in Kohat decreased from 30.41 percent in financial year 2024-25 to 27.75 percent in financial year 2025-26. Gas worth more than Rs970 million was stolen in Kohat.
Similarly, the gas loss rate in Lakki Marwat was 30.97 percent in 2024-25, which decreased to 26.99 percent in 2025-26. Thus, gas worth Rs123 million was stolen in Lakki.
The figures show that although the overall quantity of gas lost and its financial value decreased in financial year 2025-26 compared with financial year 2024-25, the overall loss rate increased.
SNGPL officials in the southern districts claim that gas theft is continuing due to the non-cooperation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, while gas theft is increasing because of the patronage of political leaders. They said dozens of letters had been written to the provincial government, but no action was being taken on them. They said 496 complaints were forwarded to police officials during the last 14 months, but only 166 FIRs could be registered. They said losses were continuing to increase due to the government’s lack of interest, while the administrative machinery was not cooperating. So far, no gas thief has been convicted. They said that those stealing gas were wasting more gas than they were consuming.
According to the spokesperson, SNGPL recently completed a rehabilitation project costing approximately Rs1 billion, under which old and damaged pipelines were replaced with new ones, along with necessary repair and maintenance of the pipelines.
However, local residents have allegedly refused to have legal gas connections installed. Incidents of illegal tapping of pipelines around the Nashpa gas field have raised serious questions not only regarding gas and oil losses, but also concerning human lives, property and public safety.
A senior official of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government said that gas theft has declined considerably, according to the available figures. He said the issue has persisted for the past 14 to 15 years, and efforts are being made to address it gradually by politically engaging and convincing people in the affected areas. The official said some local residents believe that since gas and oil are extracted from their areas, they should be provided gas free of cost.
He said the figures indicate substantial improvement in the situation. He added that police are registering cases against those involved in gas theft, while efforts are also underway to engage local communities through political dialogue.
The government, he said, is trying to resolve the issue peacefully through consultation and dialogue rather than confrontation.
