Women of Ghotki take to the streets

Demand provision of gas supply along with jobs for unemployed youth

SUKKUR: Female protesters, irked by the apathy of multi-national companies in the Ghotki district, staged a demonstration and sit-in outside the main gate of the Qadirpur gas field of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) on Sunday.

The women demanded employment opportunities for the youth of the district along with gas supply to nearby villages.

The protest continued for more than three hours due to which traffic in the area remain suspended.

Talking to the media, protester Shaheen Shaista said that the company's management is not ready to provide jobs to the local populace.

"We live in the villages near the Qadirpur gas field but no gas is being supplied to us," said another protester, Hajra. Despite repeated requests, the district administration is not taking any interest in our problems, said protester Jamila. These multi-national companies have been working in the Ghotki district for more than a decade but nothing has changed.

Finally, OGDCL regional coordinator Munawar Abbasi met the protesting women and assured them that their problems will be taken up with the relevant authority. The sit-in was called off after the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2016.