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QUETTA: A rupture in a high-pressure gas transmission pipeline near Mach in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province disrupted supplies to several districts on Saturday, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) said, adding that repair teams had been dispatched to carry out emergency work.

The 18-inch pipeline ruptured at around 5 a.m., cutting off gas to Pishin, Kuchlak, Ziarat, Mastung, Kalat, Mangochar, Kod Koocha, Bustan, Harmazai and nearby areas.

SSGC said limited, low-pressure supply was being maintained through another 12-inch line to parts of Quetta’s outskirts, including Nawan Killi, Hanna, Saray Ghurghai, Pashtoonabad and sections of the Eastern Bypass.

“We dispatched our technical teams to the site immediately, and full repair work is being undertaken on an urgent basis,” company spokesperson Salman Siddiqui said in a statement. “We apologize to consumers for the inconvenience and are taking emergency measures to ensure gas availability in urban areas during cooking hours.”

It is not clear what caused the rupture in the gas pipeline but militant attacks on gas infrastructure are not unusual in Balochistan, where insurgent groups have repeatedly targeted transmission lines in winter months to pressure the state.

The province, Pakistan’s largest but least developed, has long been the center of a separatist rebellion, with militants accusing the federal government of exploiting its mineral wealth without improving local living conditions.

The government denies this, saying it has invested heavily in infrastructure and livelihood programs across the region.
SSGC said it was too early to estimate when full supply would be restored, though it promised to keep consumers informed about repair progress.