Sindh development: NA panel concerned over low welfare spending
Says resource-rich region still deprived of health and educational facilities.
The subcommittee observes that Sindh is a major producer of gas and development work in the region is unsatisfactory. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A subcommittee of a parliamentary panel expressed concern on Monday over low spending by gas exploration companies on development projects in oil producing areas of Sindh.
A meeting of the National Assembly sub-committee on petroleum and natural resources, held to review progress on development projects that were initiated for the welfare of locals in Sindh, directed that the share of spending on the projects should be enhanced.
The sub-committee also made recommendations for future welfare projects, as well as for helping the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), and other companies remove obstacles in operational activities.
The subcommittee observed that Sindh was a major producer of gas and development work in the region was unsatisfactory. Furthermore, it stated that these areas were still deprived of health and educational facilities. The committee advised the exploration companies to initiate a scheme to provide residential facilities to the poor families of Sindh.
OGDCL officials informed the subcommittee that the company had made allocated a huge amount under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme to provide relief to the people living in oil and gas producing areas of Sindh.
Additional Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Resources Naeem Malik apprised the committee that due to certain limitation and conditions from the government, companies were bound to spend only a certain amount on the welfare of the local people.
“However, if those restrictions are removed and companies are allowed to work independently, then the situation will be different,” he said and requested the body members to take up the issue in the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2013.
A subcommittee of a parliamentary panel expressed concern on Monday over low spending by gas exploration companies on development projects in oil producing areas of Sindh.
A meeting of the National Assembly sub-committee on petroleum and natural resources, held to review progress on development projects that were initiated for the welfare of locals in Sindh, directed that the share of spending on the projects should be enhanced.
The sub-committee also made recommendations for future welfare projects, as well as for helping the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), and other companies remove obstacles in operational activities.
The subcommittee observed that Sindh was a major producer of gas and development work in the region was unsatisfactory. Furthermore, it stated that these areas were still deprived of health and educational facilities. The committee advised the exploration companies to initiate a scheme to provide residential facilities to the poor families of Sindh.
OGDCL officials informed the subcommittee that the company had made allocated a huge amount under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme to provide relief to the people living in oil and gas producing areas of Sindh.
Additional Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Resources Naeem Malik apprised the committee that due to certain limitation and conditions from the government, companies were bound to spend only a certain amount on the welfare of the local people.
“However, if those restrictions are removed and companies are allowed to work independently, then the situation will be different,” he said and requested the body members to take up the issue in the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2013.