Gas supply suspended in Karachi after pipeline damaged in Red Line construction

KARACHI: Gas supply was disrupted in major parts of the city on Saturday evening after the Red Line construction work damaged a high-pressure gas pipeline near Jail Chowrangi. A spokesperson for the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) said that a12-inch diameter high-pressure pipeline was hit during excavation for the bus rapid transit (BRT) project. The spokesperson said as a result the gas supply to Saddar, Garden, Jamshed Road, PIB Colony, Lyari, Lines Area and adjacent localities was immediately suspended. She said that the SSGC teams reached the site and cordoned off the damaged section of the supply line with safety barriers to prevent further risk. Residents in affected areas reported complete disconnection of gas at 7pm, adversely impacting mainly households, who relied on piped gas during peak cooking hours in the evening. The spokesperson said that repair work was being carried out on an emergency basis. “Gas supply will be restored gradually once repair work is completed,” she added. The spokesperson that the repair work was expected to be completed early Sunday morning and supply would be phased back as repaired were completed. The BRT construction corridor in Karachi has seen multiple utility line strikes in recent months as underground infrastructure intersects with ongoing roadworks. Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2026