The Federal Investigation Agency has recovered at least 18 paramount transformers (PMTs) of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) from a private workshop in Pattoki where suspects were replacing the parts of new transformers with old ones.

A man has been arrested while Wapda officials have been booked in the case.

The FIA officials on intelligence information raided a workshop owned by the accused Imran. They found 15 transformers of WAPDA while three other transformers were recovered from Imran’s house.

The suspect failed to produce the documents of unregistered transformers.

The FIA booked three linemen of WAPDA identified as Humayun Asghar, Hakeem Sajjad, and Muhammad Ashraf.

Sources claimed that the accused used to replace the equipment of new transformers with parts from old transformers, rendering the life of new transformers shorter. Consequently, soon after installation, new transformers would develop faults.

The linemen would then bring these transformers to the workshop for repair and receive money against fixing costs.

The FIA believes that more employees of WAPDA were involved in criminal practices and it has opened a probe into the matter.