The National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2011 making oil and gas theft a non-bail able offence with maximum jail term of 14 years and fine of Rs 10 million for damaging main oil and gas pipelines.
Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources introduced two separate bills in the house including the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess Bill, 2011 and Petroleum Products Levy Amendment Bill, 2011 for imposing new taxes on gas and POL.
As per passed legislation an additional Chapter has been inserted in the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 namely, “Chapter XVII A of Offence Relating to Oil and Gas”. The bill proposed following punishments for tempering with gas meters and gas pipelines.
Tampering with Auxiliary or Distribution Pipeline of Petroleum: Any person who tampers or abets in tampering with auxiliary or distribution pipeline of petroleum for the purpose of theft of petroleum or disrupting supply of petroleum will be punished with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to 10 years and with fine which may extend to Rs 3 million.
Tampering with gas meter: Any person who tampers/attempts to temper or abets in tampering with any gas meter, regulator, meter index, or gas connection or any other related system and equipment, whether to commit theft of gas or for the purpose of unauthorised distribution or supply of gas shall be punishable in case of: a domestic consumer, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to RS 100,000 or both.
In the case of industrial and commercial consumer, tampering with gas meter will be liable for imprisonment for 5 to 10 years and Rs 5 million fine or both.
Damaging or Destructing the Transmission Line: Any person who damages or destroys any transmission or transportation lines shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for upto 14 years and Rs 10m fine.
Any person who tampers/attempts to tamper or abets in tampering with petroleum pipelines shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment upto 14 years with Rs 10m fine. The proposed amendment bill was pending in NA Finance Committee since 1977. According to petroleum ministry estimates, gas theft causes a loss of Rs 20 billion per year while oil theft results in losses of Rs 18 billion a year.
