Fighting over oil: Politicians flay decision to shift oil refinery to Kohat

Say locals in Karak being denied benefits; were not taken into confidence

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz K-P General Secretary Rehmat Salam Khattak has criticised the decision to shift the oil refinery project from Krapa in Karak to Khushal Garh in Kohat, located near the Kohat-Punjab border.

Speaking at the Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, he said Khushal Garh is more than 100 kilometres away from oil and gas generating areas in Karak and it will cost more to build pipelines to and from the refinery.

The project was going to be established in Krapa initially according to the feasibility report as it is closer to the areas that produce oil. However, a new decision was taken by the provincial government, according to which the oil refinery was shifted to Kohat’s boundary with Punjab.

“It will be a menace and will make it easier for oil pilferers,” Rehmat Salam said.

According to the PML-N provincial general secretary, Rs20 billion worth of oil has already been stolen by bureaucrats, police and other government officials. “Transferring the project to Khushal Garh is equivalent to providing further chance to grease palm of the oil pilferers,” he added.

Rehmat Salam said the provincial government has some influential elements, bureaucracy and police officials shifting the project to outskirts of Kohat district near Punjab. Former provincial minister for prison department Mian Nisar Gul and former provincial lawmaker Sharif Khattak were also present on the occasion.

Sharif urged the high court and apex court to take action against Chief Minister Pervez Khattak’s decision to shift the oil refinery to Khushal Garh. He said protests would be held if the oil refinery project is shifted to other places instead of Krapa.

Moreover, the speakers at the press conference alleged the PTI-led provincial government did not take the elders of the area into confidence before it decided to change the location of the oil refinery.

“The people of Karak have never objected on any issues before,” Gul said. “Karak was mainly a salt-producing district but now it is producing oil as well. And yet, its people are being deprived of the benefits.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2015.