Mari gets nod for survey aircraft

Temporarily imported airplane will carry out field detection surveys in K-P, Balochistan

ISLAMABAD:

The government has allowed Mari Energies to carry out airborne field detection survey operations in different areas in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), including Waziristan, and Balochistan.

Mari Energies has also been allowed temporary import of aircraft to conduct surveys of different sites in the two provinces.

Sources said that Mari had been granted a conditional NOC for carrying out an airborne Strike Field Detection (SFD) survey operation in the following areas, which included (Wali) West, Waziristan and Karak Block in K-P, Block-28, Hanna, Hanna South, Ziarat and Ziarat North Blocks in Balochistan.

However, different conditions and security points have been attached to this approval. The firm shall ensure that the survey remains limited to the areas mutually agreed. The firm shall arrange transportation, lodging and make other administrative arrangements for the duration of the survey and shall not ask for any charges in this regard.

The company must provide at least two weeks' notice regarding the arrival of the aircraft and the survey team. No photo and survey equipment will be loaded on the aircraft, other than those sensors/equipment required for survey and communication.

Mari will provide an undertaking that no survey data will be transmitted out of the country without clearance from the Strategic Plans Division (SPD). In addition, each survey sortie will be cleared by the SPD team, after having assessed the survey data acquired during the previous sortie.

The firm will permit pre-inspection of the aircraft by a team of SPD and two officers of SPD will be on board during each survey sortie for monitoring and coordination. Schedule of each survey sortie is to be communicated at least 48 hours in advance to the SPD team for clearance.

In case of presence of strategic minerals, SPD shall have priority rights and the firm shall provide space and passage to SPD in case SPD plans to carry out any activity in that area. Foreign experts, if any, may only be allowed to visit after necessary security clearance.

Use/carrying of maps, survey equipment, GPS and technical gadgetry on the project site other than the required equipment is prohibited.

Routing/safe transit of each mission (from take-off till landing) shall be devised in consultation with the Directorate of Air Traffic Services. Survey team should not be allowed to visit/photograph any key point of vital defence installation.

Foreigners will not be allowed to visit any other area without proper security cover. Local authorities will ensure personal security of the foreigners. Adequate arrangement will be made for the security of guests by the host district to avoid any untoward incident.

Mari has been advised to fulfil all the conditions/requirements in true letter and spirit and to furnish a certificate for the observance of all the mentioned conditions.