Rs2.6b pipeline to be laid to solve gas pressure issue

Work on Mardan-Charsadda to Peshawar line will start by November

PESHAWAR:

To resolve the annual issue of low gas pressure during the long winter months, a new gas pipeline worth Rs2.6 billion will be laid between Mardan and Peshawar later this year.

This was disclosed during a high-level meeting on the gas supply issue, chaired by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and attended by members of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) board of directors, at the Chief Minister House in Peshawar on Friday.

Advisor to Chief Minister on energy Himayatullah Khan, Special Assistant Kamran Bangash, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Shahab Ali Shah, energy and power secretary, SNGPL Board’s Chairperson Roohi Khan, SNGPL General Manager Arbab Saqib and others were present on the occasion.

To permanently resolve the issue of low gas pressure, it was disclosed that another gas pipeline will be laid to supply the amenity to the provincial capital. The line will be laid from Mardan to Charsadda before turning towards and connecting to Peshawar.

Officials said that work on the project is expected to start by November, later this year.

To resolve the low gas pressure issue in Rashakai, work on a project worth Rs1.2 billion is underway. Work on a similar project is underway to provide gas to the Hattar Economic Zone.

CM Mahmood stressed on completing these projects at the earliest directed the relevant authorities to expedite work. He further assured the utility that the provincial government will provide all possible support in this regard.

The chief minister further underlined the need to take all possible measures to provide piped gas to the remote, northern areas and other districts of the province where the facility is currently unavailable.

Through the provision of the fuel, he hoped that the problem of locals cutting trees can come to a halt.

“Due to the non-availability of gas, wood is used as a fuel. To protect forests, provision of gas is imperative,” he explained.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2020.