Gas supply to large parts of Quetta and multiple districts across Balochistan was suspended late Monday night after a major pipeline explosion caused by unidentified armed men.
According to officials from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), an 18-inch-diameter main gas pipeline was blown up in the Akhtarabad area along the Western Bypass, located on the outskirts of the provincial capital.
Police sources said explosive material had been planted beneath the pipeline, which detonated in the evening, triggering a fire and severely damaging a significant section of the infrastructure. The blast disrupted gas supply to several areas, including Hazara Town, Hazarganji, Khaizi, Nohsar, Pishin, Ziarat, Kalat, Mastung, and Kuchlak.
SSGC officials confirmed that repair teams have reached the site, but restoration work will commence only after security clearance is granted. Authorities have since deployed a heavy contingent of security forces to safeguard key gas installations in the region.
The incident highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in critical energy infrastructure, raising concerns about supply stability in the province.
