Pipelines are a major mode of transporting oil, gas, and other materials over long distances. Pakistan has an extensive pipeline network to transport gas and oil domestically. The largest gas pipeline network is operated by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines, transporting gas over 7,756 km from Balochistan to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Oil pipelines are operated by Pak-Arab Pipeline Company, transporting crude oil and refined products over 2,000 km from Karachi to northern regions. Future pipeline projects include the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline and Pakistan-Russia North-South Gas Pipeline, while the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline project remains stalled.

1. Insight: Pipelines in Pakistan | Sayyed Zakir Ali Rizwe
INSIGHT: PIPELINES IN PAKISTAN
SUBMITTED TO: FAIZ UL ISLAM
Sayyed Zakir Ali Rizwe
20151‐19131

2. Insight: Pipelines in Pakistan | Sayyed Zakir Ali Rizwe
Page | 1
Pipelines:
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods or material
through a pipe.
As per statistics of the year 2015 the global pipeline network is
measured approximately to 22M miles in 120 countries.
However, the share is not normally distributed across the globe
as US alone covers 65% of the print whereas Russia and Canada
house 8% and 3% respectively; the rest is shared by the remaining
117 countries.
But this is not all, per the pipeline and Gas Journal's worldwide
survey almost 119K miles of pipelines are either been planned or
are under construction.
What does Pipelines Carry:
Liquids, gases and or any chemically stable substance can be transported through a pipeline.
Pipelines today transport crude and refined petroleum, fuels such as oil, natural gas and biofuels. Pipelines also
carry sewage & water for drinking and or land irrigation purpose over long distances.
What are pipelines made up of:
‐ Oil pipelines are made from steel or plastic tubes that are usually buried. The oil is moved through
the pipelines by pump stations along the pipeline.
‐ Natural gas (and similar gaseous fuels) are lightly pressurized into liquids known as Natural Gas
Liquids (NGLs) and are constructed using carbon steel.
‐ Heating or teleheating systems use a network of insulated pipes which transport heated water,
pressurized hot water, or sometimes steam to the customer
‐ Sewage (waste) is moved through huge pipes made of sanitary sewer systems
Why Pipelines?
Pipelines play a major contribution in protecting the environment through reducing road congestion by
substituting thousands of tank lorries. With it much of the noise, fatalities and pollution on the surface, thefts
and contamination of the product also become a thing of the past.
It has also drastically reduced loss
through damage and pilferage. Per a
report oil transportation from
Karachi to the upcountry is tank
lorries is not only plagued with
accidents but also theft amounting
to $200 million worth of oil stolen
every year in connivance of/with
lorry drivers.
Pipeline network are of critical
significance and strategic nature. Not
only the implementation contributes
earning to national exchequer but
also by delivering major savings in freight expenses.
Pipelines in Pakistan:

3. Insight: Pipelines in Pakistan | Sayyed Zakir Ali Rizwe
Page | 2
In Pakistan 2‐types of commercial pipelines are laid to transport oil and gas across cities/ region. Sewage & tap
water pipelines also form a considerable portion are not stated herein for their non‐commercial use
Operational – Gas Pipeline in Pakistan:
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), incorporated as a
private limited Company in 1963 and converted into a public
limited company in January 1964 is the company responsible to
transport gas across the national regions of Pakistan.
It took over (existing) Sui‐Multan System (217 miles of 16” & 80 miles of 10” pipelines) from Pakistan industrial
Development Corporation and Dhulian‐Rawalpindi‐Wah system (82 miles of 6” pipeline) from Attock Oil
Company Limited. The company sell an average of 47 MMCFD gas Multan and Rawalpindi region.
It is the largest integrated gas company serving more than 5.3 million consumers in North Central Pakistan
through an extensive network in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
SNGPL transmission system extends from Sui in Baluchistan to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK)
comprising over 7,756 KM of Transmission System (main & Loop lines inclusive). Distribution system consists
of 94,263 KM of pipeline.
Operational ‐ Oil/Crude/Fuel Pipelines in Pakistan:
Pak‐Arab Refinery (PARCO) cross‐country network of pipelines through its subsidiary
Pak‐Arab Pipeline Co (PAPCO), starts from Karachi and goes up to Machhike (near
Lahore), covering over 2000 KM.
Presented below is a quick brief on the operational pipelines under PAPCO
Karachi – Mahmoodkot [KMK Pipeline]:
This is a 870‐km pipeline, commissioned in the year
1981. It transports crude from Karachi to
Mahmoodkot (near Multan) for PARCO mid‐country
refinery.
Initially the annual pumping capacity was of 2.9
million tons but now it can pump up to 6 million tons
per year.
Mahmoodkot‐ Faisalabad – Machhike [MFM)
Pipeline]:
Commissioned by PARCO; a 362‐km pipeline, in the
year 1997 to transport refined products like diesel
and kerosene to Faisalabad and Machhike (near
Lahore).
Designed pumping capacity of approximately 3.7
million tons per year.
White Oil Pipeline:
US$ 480 million, White Oil Pipeline is the mega
infrastructure project owned by PAPCO.
After conversion of PARCO’s existing pipeline
network for crude oil transportation, white oil pipeline transport diesel to central regions of Pakistan that
accounts for almost 60% of the total Petroleum consumption in the country.

4. Insight: Pipelines in Pakistan | Sayyed Zakir Ali Rizwe
Page | 3
For this 786 KM pipeline implementation from Karachi to Mahmoodkot, PAPCO as a joint venture company
was created. PARCO holds a 51% majority share in PAPCO while Shell, PSO and TOTAL PARCO Marketing Limited
hold 26%, 12% and 11% shares in equity respectively.
The 26” pipeline designed to transport 12 million tons per year, starting with 5 million tons in the initial years.
Korangi Port Wasim Link [KPLK Pipeline]:
22 km pipeline was laid by PAPCO to link PARCO’s Korangi station with PAPCO’s Port Qasim station in the year
2006 to connect it to both Keamari & Port Qasim ports with the PARCO & PAPCO pipeline systems.
Future Pipelines:
‐ Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline (TAPI)
o Also known as Trans‐Afghanistan Pipeline, is a natural gas pipeline being developed by
the Galkynysh – TAPI Pipeline Company Limited with participation of the Asian
Development Bank.
o The pipeline will transport natural gas from the Galkynysh Gas Field in Turkmenistan
through Afghanistan into Pakistan and then to India
o The pipeline is expected to be operational by 2019
‐ Pakistan – Russia: North South Gas Pipeline
o Pakistan and Russia signed an agreement to build $2 billion pipeline to transport gas from
Karachi to Lahore to mitigate shortages in northern parts of the country.
o The North‐South Gas Pipeline will have an additional capacity of transporting LNG from
Karachi, which Pakistan is importing from Qatar to meet shortages.
o The 1,100 Km pipeline is expected to be completed by 2018‐19
Discontinued or Limbo ‐ Pipelines Projects:
‐ Iran – Pakistan Gas Pipeline
o In limbo following price disagreement following lower prices quoted by Qatar for LNG
o And further propelled by sanctions put on Iran by the US
‐ Afghanistan Oil Pipeline
o The project proposed by several oil companies to transport oil from Azerbaijan and
Central Asia through Afghanistan to Pakistan or/and India
o The US$ 2.5Billion project was closed due to political and security instability