Several parts of Karachi lost piped gas during lunchtime on Saturday after excavation for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line on University Road damaged a high-pressure pipeline, causing a Karachi gas supply disruption that SSGC (Sui Southern Gas Company, the city’s main gas utility) said lasted until late afternoon.
An SSGC spokesperson said the line near the Gulshan-i-Iqbal telephone exchange was hit at around 1pm during construction activity. The outage affected Gulshan-i-Iqbal, localities around Mazar-i-Quaid, parts of Garden, Saddar, Burns Road and several other areas.
Where supply was cut and why
The damage was linked to digging for the Red Line project on University Road. High-pressure lines carry gas at force that serves large zones, so a single break can interrupt many homes and shops at once. Residents said the sudden stop came at cooking hours, when kitchens and small hotels depend on a steady flame.
Commercial eateries and roadside hotels in Saddar and Garden saw a rush as households without gas turned to takeaway or dining out. Families reported difficulty preparing afternoon meals and said some ordered food from nearby restaurants.
Repairs and restoration
SSGC said teams arrived quickly and finished repairs by 5pm. “After completion of the work, gas supply was restored,” the spokesperson said. That put the main interruption at roughly four hours from the reported damage time.
Some domestic users said low pressure continued even after the announced restoration, so cooking remained difficult for a time in places that had already been told supply was back.
How households felt the outage
Rozina Adnan, a Saddar resident, said guests were at home when the gas stopped and the family ordered biryani from a nearby hotel, which cost extra and caused embarrassment. A Garden resident said his wife could not cook and the family brought restaurant food for the children.
The episode adds pressure on daily routines in a city where many homes cook on sui gas and have little backup for a midday cut. Construction work near buried utilities can cause similar interruptions if pipelines are struck again.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Saturday, around 1pm: High-pressure pipeline near Gulshan-i-Iqbal telephone exchange on University Road damaged during BRT Red Line excavation.
- Saturday, lunch hours: Gas suspended in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, areas around Mazar-i-Quaid, parts of Garden, Saddar, Burns Road and other localities.
- Saturday, up to 5pm: SSGC teams carried out repairs; spokesperson said work was completed by 5pm.
- Saturday, after 5pm: SSGC said supply was restored; some residents still reported low pressure afterward.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Karachi mein Red Line ki khudai se University Road par gas ki pipeline kharab ho gayi. Kai ilaqon mein dopahar ke time gas band ho gayi, jis se khana pakana mushkil ho gaya. SSGC ne kaha ke marammat sham 5 baje tak ho gayi aur gas wapas aa gayi. Phir bhi kuch gharoun mein pressure kam raha, is liye cooking ab bhi careful rehna chahiye.
