A major corruption and theft scandal has been uncovered at the Pakistan Steel Mills, where authorities allege that billions of rupees worth of machinery and scrap material were systematically stolen over an extended period.
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The investigation was initiated by the Federal Investigation Agency following a complaint from the Ministry of Industries and Production. Early findings suggest a highly organised network involving internal employees, security staff, and scrap dealers working in coordination.
According to investigators, valuable equipment, electrical cables, scrap metal, and other infrastructure components were regularly removed from the facility without proper documentation or gate passes. Officials say this points to either gross negligence or possible collusion by security personnel responsible for safeguarding the site.
One of the key breakthroughs in the investigation was the recovery of a 22-wheeler trailer loaded with approximately 36 tons of government-owned material. This discovery has raised concerns about the scale and sophistication of the alleged theft network.
Preliminary evidence indicates that the operation was carried out by a coordinated group with deep internal access, allowing them to bypass security checks and transport materials out of the plant without detection. The involvement of scrap dealers suggests that the stolen goods were likely being sold in the open market.
Officials also revealed that although an FIR was initially registered, it was later downgraded to a “C-class” report, raising suspicions of attempts to suppress the case. The FIA has now included this aspect in its investigation to determine whether procedural manipulation was used to protect those involved.
Authorities have identified several key suspects and facilitators linked to the case. Efforts are underway to tighten the net around the individuals believed to be at the centre of the network.
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The scandal has sparked serious concerns about governance, oversight, and security lapses at one of Pakistan’s most important industrial facilities.