By SKM
September 22, 2025
ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan endures one of the most severe flood crises in its history, vital infrastructure continues to face extraordinary stress — particularly in southern Punjab’s Jalalpur Pirwala, where a major segment of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) network has suffered heavy damage.
In an urgent bid to maintain uninterrupted gas supply to central Punjab, SNGPL launched emergency repair work to lay a 30-inch diameter pipeline bypass over a 6–7 kilometer stretch. The bypass aims to restore flow between two disrupted sections of the network, following severe flood-induced damage to two key 36-inch gas pipelines.
But while this emergency intervention has succeeded in sustaining approximately 900 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of gas supply to Punjab, it has triggered serious questions about the method and safety of the operation.
Pipeline Laid on Collapsed Motorway Section
According to technical sources familiar with the matter, the new 30-inch pipeline has been laid along the central portion of a flood-damaged and currently non-operational motorway — a move that experts say violates standard safety and engineering protocols for high-pressure gas pipelines. Parts of the motorway itself have collapsed due to flooding, raising concerns about ground stability.
“This is not just a case of unusual routing — it’s potentially dangerous,” one senior engineer, requesting anonymity, told this reporter. “Pipelines like these are not designed to be laid on compromised infrastructure, even temporarily.”
Despite those concerns, company officials and the government defend the decision, citing extreme conditions and the urgent need to maintain regional energy supply.
Minister Defends Emergency Bypass
Speaking to this correspondent, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik acknowledged the gravity of the situation, noting that he and the Secretary of Petroleum personally visited the site to assess ongoing work.
“There are four pipelines at this location — two of 36-inch diameter, one 30-inch, and one 24-inch,” he said. “The two 36-inch pipelines sustained heavy damage. To avoid a disruption in gas supply, we laid a 30-inch bypass line along the motorway, which is already non-functional due to the flood. This is a temporary and calculated measure taken under extraordinary circumstances.”
Malik emphasized that the pipeline is under constant monitoring, and as water levels recede, the situation is improving. “There is no immediate danger, and all safety precautions have been taken,” he added.
SNGPL Says Integrity Intact Despite Crisis
A spokesperson for SNGPL said the crisis escalated when embankments near the pipeline corridor were breached by local authorities, allowing floodwaters to infiltrate the system and shift the underground lines.
“Despite the chaos, our teams managed to preserve system integrity and ensure gas flow was not disrupted,” the spokesperson said. “Suggestions that SOPs were ignored are misplaced. In such emergencies, technical adaptations are often essential. This bypass is not permanent, and its operation is being handled with the utmost care.”
The company confirmed that while the two 36-inch lines remain out of service, the 30-inch temporary bypass is stable, though partially exposed. A 24-inch pipeline — carrying an additional 300 MMCFD of gas — remains fully functional.
The Petroleum Ministry has issued a letter of appreciation to the SNGPL management and field teams for their emergency response under difficult conditions.
Experts Call for Independent Technical Review
Despite official assurances, some field engineers and independent observers continue to question the approach.
“There’s a fine line between emergency adaptation and operational compromise,” said an independent pipeline consultant. “If this pipeline was never intended for long-term use, why invest so heavily in it — especially when it is routed through a structurally compromised area? A third-party technical audit is necessary.”
Others worry the move sets a concerning precedent: that in the face of urgency, core safety protocols might be sidelined without proper oversight — or documentation.
Larger Lessons Amid Climate Crisis
The Jalalpur Pirwala pipeline issue underscores broader challenges confronting Pakistan as it battles increasingly frequent climate-driven disasters. Infrastructure, including energy networks, remains highly vulnerable to extreme weather, and emergency planning is often reactive rather than preemptive.
“This incident should be a wake-up call,” said a retired energy sector regulator. “There needs to be a national protocol for how infrastructure is maintained, modified, or bypassed during disasters — and independent oversight must be part of that equation.”
As Pakistan’s flood crisis continues to disrupt lives and livelihoods, the balance between rapid restoration and safe, accountable infrastructure management remains delicate. Whether the Jalalpur Pirwala bypass becomes a success story of responsive crisis management — or a case study in compromised engineering — may depend on how transparently it is assessed in the days ahead. Ends
