Today, Pipeline Systems are recognized as the safest and most environment-friendly mode of oil transportation. By comparison, transportation of oil by road and rail is potentially hazardous and adds to pollution. Trucks, which are the more common mode of oil transportation, cause the greatest environmental degradation, affecting the air, water and soil. Exhaust gases from trucks disperse harmful pollutants, which endanger humans, animals and vegetation. Public health concerns also arise as prolonged exposure to these emissions from trucks has the potential of causing a number of adverse health effects including cancer, asthma, lung diseases, etc.

By contrast, pipeline transportation has almost no negative ecological impact. In Pakistan the need for movement of oil has been growing at a fast rate to sustain industrial growth, expanding urbanization and a progressively mechanizing agricultural sector. Movement by roads has been causing congestions, delays, accidents and road degradation too. The energy requirements are growing, these issues are becoming more acute, particularly in urban areas. Pipeline transportation of petroleum is the ideal solution to these problems.

With its elaborate Pipeline System, PAPCO has reduced movement of an estimated 4000 trucks operating out of Keamari traversing back and forth the length of the country. In selecting its oil pipeline routes, environmental matters were addressed and the requirements of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fully complied with. No property on the World Heritage List is impacted. Specific measures were also taken to avoid disturbance to wildlife and vegetation. Even in choosing the main line pumps, care was exercised to ensure that pump specifications conformed to the noise level of +/- 85db(A), so as to remain well within environmentally safe limits.