Temporary gas pipeline laid on motorway, raising safety concerns

ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan reels from flood crisis, the country’s critical infrastructure is under mounting pressure. In southern Punjab’s Jalalpur Pirwala, floodwaters have disrupted a key section of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) transmission network — prompting emergency repairs that are now under increasing scrutiny for potential safety risks and procedural lapses.

The flooding has caused multiple pipelines to shift and lift from their original alignment, creating what technical sources describe as a high-risk situation. In response, the SNGPL has launched urgent efforts to lay a 36-inch diameter pipeline over a six to seven-kilometre stretch to reconnect two major assemblies and ensure the continued supply of gas to Punjab.

However, the emergency construction method has raised serious engineering and safety concerns. Internal sources claim the new pipeline is being laid directly along the centre of a motorway, parts of which have already collapsed due to flood damage. Experts warn this approach may violate established safety protocols for high-pressure gas lines — and could pose a serious hazard if the line is brought into operation.

When contacted, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Ali Pervaiz Malik acknowledged the severity of the situation. He confirmed that the petroleum secretary and he had personally visited the site to assess ground situation.

“There are four pipelines at this location — two 36-inch lines, one 30-inch, and one 24-inch,” he said. “The two 36-inch pipelines sustained significant damage. To maintain uninterrupted gas supply to Punjab, a 30-inch bypass line was laid along the motorway, which itself is non-functional due to flood damage. This was a temporary solution under extraordinary circumstances,” he explained.

The minister confirmed that the bypass is currently helping to sustain 900 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of gas supply to Punjab and emphasised that safety measures are in place as water levels begin to recede.

An SNGPL spokesperson explained that the situation deteriorated after embankments protecting the pipelines were breached by authorities, exposing the infrastructure to floodwaters. Despite the emergency, the SNGPL maintains that system integrity has been preserved.

“Our teams ensured uninterrupted gas flow to central Punjab,” the spokesperson stated. “Suggestions that SOPs were ignored are misplaced. In extraordinary emergencies, technical adaptations are often required. The bypass is not permanent, and all safety protocols have been adopted accordingly.”

He added that while the two damaged 36-inch lines remain out of service, the 30-inch bypass, though partially exposed, is stable and under continuous monitoring. Meanwhile, the 24-inch line, carrying an additional 300 MMCFD, remains fully operational. “In recognition of SNGPL’s timely action, the Petroleum Ministry has issued a letter of appreciation to SNGPL’s management and field staff for maintaining critical gas supply during the flood emergency.”

However, the situation in Jalalpur Pirwala highlights a broader challenge: how to protect and repair energy infrastructure in the face of climate-induced disasters. As extreme weather events become more frequent, experts stress the need for resilient engineering, transparent governance, and better disaster-preparedness planning. Whether the Jalalpur Pirwala pipeline becomes a case study in adaptive crisis management or one of avoidable mismanagement will likely depend on how openly and rigorously the situation is reviewed in the weeks ahead.