Digging in Karachi for Red Line damages gas pipeline, disrupts supply

Karachi's gas supply was temporarily halted during lunchtime on Saturday following damage to a high-pressure pipeline during excavation for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line on University Road. The disruption impacted residents in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, areas around Mazar-i-Quaid, parts of Garden, Saddar, Burns Road, and various other neighborhoods.

Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) spokesperson revealed that the pipeline near the Gulshan-i-Iqbal telephone exchange on University Road suffered damage around 1 pm while BRT construction work was underway. Repair teams swiftly arrived at the site and initiated repairs, which were concluded by 5 pm, restoring gas supply accordingly.

The abrupt suspension of gas service caused considerable inconvenience for affected residents, especially during meal preparation times. Households reported difficulties in cooking as well as commercial eateries and roadside hotels in Saddar and Garden experiencing a surge in customers. Domestic consumers complained about low pressure persisting even after the restoration time, forcing many families to seek food from nearby restaurants.

One resident of Saddar mentioned having guests when the gas supply vanished, resulting in the need to order biryani from a nearby hotel, incurring extra costs and causing embarrassment. Another Garden resident expressed his wife's inability to cook and the family resorting to ordering food from a restaurant for their children.