Staff Reporter:Â
QUETTA: Millions of people across Balochistan were left struggling to cook meals and warm their homes on Wednesday after an 18-inch high-pressure gas pipeline was blown up in Mach, plunging major districts into a severe gas crisis amid an unusually cold November.
According to Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), unknown attackers targeted the main transmission line before dawn, cutting supply to Quetta, Pishin, Kuchlak, Ziarat, Mastung and Kalat. Several densely populated parts of Quetta — including Sariab, Eastern Bypass, Nawan Killi and Pashtoonabad — also faced complete outages.
SSGC General Manager Raheel Malik said the company was redirecting what little gas it could through a much smaller 12-inch backup line, but the pressure remains far too low to meet the needs of millions. Repair teams are at the site, but actual restoration work cannot begin until security agencies clear the area.
For families across the province, the timing could not be worse. With temperatures dropping earlier and harsher than last year, households are struggling to stay warm and prepare food. Malik revealed another major challenge: around 80% gas theft in several parts of the province, which drastically reduces system pressure and worsens shortages.
He said SSGC is trying to ensure gas availability during meal times, though the situation remains difficult. Meanwhile, federal-level discussions on gas load-shedding policy are ongoing.
The Mach pipeline blast has once again exposed the vulnerability of Balochistan’s energy infrastructure — and the massive impact such attacks have on millions of residents relying on a fragile and overstressed supply system.
