Rebels blow up major pipeline in Balochistan
Dated 8/8/2006
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A gas pipeline was blown up in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, officials said, in the latest attack in the troubled Baluchistan province where rebels are fighting for greater autonomy.
The pipeline is owned by state-run Sui Southern Gas Co Ltd and feeds gas to southern port city of Karachi.
A company official said an 18-inch diameter pipeline was blown up in Pat Feeder area near Sui, the town where the main production plant for Pakistan's largest gas field is located.
"The damage has caused a shortfall of 110 mcdf of gas per day but we have made up the deficiency from other supply lines," the official added.
He said supplies to consumers remained unaffected and the repair work on the damaged pipeline was likely to be completed within 48 hours.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks on the pipelines, but officials said they suspected Baluch militants were responsible.
Tribal militants have been waging a low-level insurgency in Baluchistan for decades but they have stepped up attacks on government installations, including gas and transport facilities, in recent months.
Baluch militants resent that local resources are being used to benefit other regions and have intensified attacks in recent months on gas pipelines, rail links and government buildings and army bases in the province.
They say profits from Baluchistan's gas reserves go to outsiders while the people of the province, Pakistan's biggest but poorest, are neglected.
