Militants target another gas pipeline

Gas supply to Quetta and various parts of Balochistan has been suspended after a gas pipeline was blown up in Dera Murad Jamali.

Unidentified men blew up the 18-inch gas pipeline near the Pit Feeder area. The loud blast triggered fire in the pipeline. People living nearby came out of their houses.

Police, levies and security forces cordoned off the area soon afterwards.

Authorities have said that the fire will be extinguished in 18 hours after which the pipeline will be repaired.

Gas pipelines in Balochistan have become a frequent target of attacks by militants in Balochistan. On Sunday, militants blew up two gas pipelines in Dera Allahyar and Dera Murad Jamali disrupting gas supply to Uch Power plant and causing an electricity shortfall of 586 MW.

On Tuesday, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Mir Changez Khan Jamali said electricity and gas supply to parts of Balochistan, brought to a halt due to explosions that targeted electricity towers and gas pipelines, would be resumed shortly.