A major gas pipeline burst in Peshawar’s Matni area on Thursday, disrupting supply to Peshawar, Swat and Mardan.Authorities have restored limited household supply through alternative lines, but strict restrictions have been imposed as repair work continues.According to the Peshawar commissioner, a 24-inch diameter pipeline supplying gas from the southern districts to Peshawar ruptured near Matni.

The disruption immediately affected gas availability in Peshawar, Swat and Mardan, leaving several areas dependent on fallback systems.Sui Northern Gas officials rushed to the site and began emergency repair operations to restore full supply.Officials confirmed that domestic gas supply has been partially restored using alternative pipelines.

A 16-inch diameter line running from the Indus River to Nowshera is currently feeding the system, allowing limited distribution to households.However, due to reduced pressure and limited capacity, domestic consumers will only receive gas for four hours a day -- morning, afternoon, and evening.The Peshawar commissioner announced that all CNG stations in the Peshawar, Mardan and Swat divisions have been closed until further notice.

The decision was made to prioritize household consumption and prevent system overload during the ongoing shortage. Authorities said stations will remain closed until the damaged pipeline is repaired and normal pressure is restored. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) teams are working around the clock to repair the burst section.

Officials said the pipeline suffered significant damage, requiring immediate and extensive work to prevent prolonged outages. Residents in the affected divisions have been urged to use gas sparingly and follow the temporary schedule until full restoration is complete.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)