News Desk
ISLAMABAD: The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has approved the long-anticipated Machike–Thallian–Tarru Jabba White Oil Pipeline project, marking a significant step in Pakistan’s efforts to modernise its energy logistics and reduce dependence on road-based fuel transportation.
The decision, confirmed on Tuesday, came after sustained facilitation by the SIFC, which has been overseeing a range of strategic investment initiatives aimed at streamlining approvals and accelerating infrastructure development. Officials said the 435-kilometre pipeline had remained on the council’s priority agenda for an extended period, with its memorandum of understanding previously signed under the SIFC’s coordination framework.
Once completed, the White Oil Pipeline is expected to create a dedicated south-to-north corridor for the transportation of refined petroleum products, commonly referred to as white oil. Authorities said the project would significantly improve the efficiency of fuel distribution across the country, while also reducing reliance on tanker trucks that have long dominated the supply chain.
Policy planners have argued that the shift towards pipeline-based transport could help lower logistics costs, reduce fuel losses during transit, and improve overall safety by minimising road traffic hazards associated with hazardous material movement. The project is also being positioned as a structural reform in Pakistan’s energy infrastructure rather than a standalone development initiative.
The SIFC said its intervention helped resolve key procedural and administrative bottlenecks that had slowed progress on the project, allowing the approval process to move forward. It described the development as part of a broader strategy to attract large-scale investment and improve investor confidence in Pakistan’s energy and infrastructure sectors.
