Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has announced an overnight suspension of gas supply to carry out essential repairs on its 24-inch Sher Shah mainline, warning that several parts of Karachi could experience reduced gas pressure if the work takes longer than scheduled.
According to the company, maintenance operations will begin at 10pm on Saturday, October 17, and are expected to conclude by 9am on Sunday, October 18.
SSGC said an extension of the planned shutdown could lead to low gas pressure in several residential and industrial localities.
The areas that may be affected include Baldia Town, Ittehad Town, Saeedabad, Naval Colony, Musharraf Colony and Mawach Goth.
Residents of Orangi Town, Gulshan-e-Bahar, Gulshan-e-Zia, Sector 16, Ghaziabad, Altaf Nagar, Mehran City and Ramzan Goth could also experience disruptions.
The SITE Industrial Area is among the locations where gas pressure may decline if the maintenance operation exceeds its scheduled duration.
The company has indicated that the potential reduction in pressure depends on whether the repair work can be completed within the announced timeframe.
Separately, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik recently directed the SSGC Board to develop a long-term strategy aimed at improving the company’s financial and operational performance.
During a meeting in Karachi with the board chairman, directors, managing director and senior officials, the minister emphasised the need to control Unaccounted-for-Gas (UFG) losses and establish a sustainable business model.
Company officials briefed the minister on operational improvements, reporting an approximately 57% reduction in UFG losses by volume.
The meeting was also informed that gas load-shedding was not being carried out for K-Electric, industrial consumers or fertiliser plants, while domestic consumers were receiving gas during three daily supply periods.
SSGC has advised that any extension of the Sher Shah mainline shutdown could affect pressure levels in the identified neighbourhoods.