KARACHI: The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has clarified that the stronger-than-usual gas smell reported in several areas of Karachi is the result of odorisation testing during the commissioning of a new gas pipeline and not due to a gas leak.
The company said testing is being carried out near Abul Hasan Ispahani Road as part of the new pipeline’s commissioning process.
No gas leak detected, says SSGC
In a statement issued on Sunday, SSGC said:
- Gas system pressure remains normal.
- No gas leakage has been reported.
- The gas distribution network is operating safely.
According to the company, an increased quantity of odorant—the chemical added to natural gas to make leaks easier to detect—was temporarily mixed with the gas during testing.
As a result, residents in some areas noticed a much stronger gas smell and reported suspected leaks.
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Company urges public to remain calm
SSGC stressed that the unusual smell is solely due to the testing of odorisation plants and does not indicate any danger.
The utility advised consumers to remain calm and continue their normal daily activities, assuring them that the gas supply system is functioning within standard operating parameters.
Previous negligence case
The clarification comes months after a Karachi court held SSGC responsible for negligence in connection with a 2022 gas explosion in Orangi Town’s Millat Colony, which claimed the lives of two people.
In April 2026, a senior civil judge ordered the company to pay Rs30 million in compensation to the affected family.
According to court proceedings, the plaintiff argued that repeated complaints about gas leakage in the area had gone unaddressed before the fatal explosion.
