Copper theft worth Rs 450 million reported from Tarbela Dam

TARBELA: A major theft involving copper wire valued at over Rs 450 million has been reported from the Tarbela Power House.

In a formal letter addressed to the Station House Officer (SHO) of Ghazi, the Chief Engineer of the facility disclosed the alarming disappearance of several tons of copper wire from the dam’s secure store.

The Chief Engineer stated that the stolen copper wire, which had been stored in wooden boxes, was reported missing during a routine inspection on October 9. The storekeeper discovered the boxes, which contained Stator Winding materials, open. A subsequent inventory check revealed that 176 copper Stator winding bars and 80 serial connectors had been stolen.

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The engineer has urged authorities to register a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown culprits and initiate the recovery process. Despite being kept in a high-security area within the Chinese camp at the dam, the theft took place without any signs of forced entry – neither locks nor doors were damaged.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ghazi, Raja Bashir Ahmed, confirmed that investigations are ongoing and expressed confidence in a swift breakthrough. He pointed out that the stolen copper was taken from an area guarded around the clock by both police and WAPDA security personnel, making the incident particularly troubling.