Islamabad: Islamabad Police, in coordination with Pakistan State Oil (PSO), foiled an attempted fuel theft from the Sihala-Attock Refinery Limited (ARL) pipeline in the early hours of Wednesday morning, arresting two suspects and recovering approximately 1,000 liters of stolen High-Speed Diesel. According to Pakistan State Oil, the incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. when PSO's monitoring system at Sihala Terminal detected an abnormal pressure drop along the pipeline. Acting swiftly on intelligence and real-time surveillance, PSO's security team alerted Islamabad Police, leading to a joint operation at the site within thirty minutes.

The joint teams apprehended the suspects in the act, dismantled an active illegal tapping clamp installed on the pipeline, and arrested two individuals. The operation also led to the recovery of approximately 1,000 liters of High-Speed Diesel stored in drums and cans, a loader vehicle, and illegal tapping equipment. The arrested suspects, recovered fuel, and vehicle were handed over to Sihala Police for registration of a formal case and further legal proceedings. The pipeline site was secured and restored to safe operating condition.

The successful operation underscores the coordination between Islamabad Police and PSO in protecting critical energy infrastructure and preventing fuel theft. Both institutions have reiterated their commitment to taking strict action against individuals involved in illegal tapping and activities that threaten national assets and public safety. PSO remains dedicated to safeguarding the country's energy supply chain and collaborates continuously with federal and provincial authorities to protect critical infrastructure.