Kohat resources: Senate body backs E&P jobs for locals in Karak, Hangu, Kohat
Committee to inspect social welfare projects of exploration and production firms
ISLAMABAD:
A subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources on Thursday recommended that oil exploration and production companies and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd hire local workers, especially in areas of their activities in Kohat division.
The subcommittee met at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Abul Nabi Bangash, who blamed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for ignoring public issues. The ruling party, according to Bangash, is unlikely to remain in power due to the attitude of its ministers. “I don’t support the present government but want the current system to continue,” he said.
The subcommittee decided to tour gas fields in Kohat, Karak and Hangu in an effort to inspect the social welfare projects completed or being carried out by the exploration and production companies for the social uplift of the people of Kohat division.
During the meeting, the issue of employment by the E&P companies and SNGPL in the areas of their activities in Kohat division was discussed. Members of the subcommittee said preference should be given to local people in jobs for security purposes.
Bangash, leader of Awami National Party (ANP), said that Article 158 of the Constitution binds the government to give gas supply first to those areas from where it is being produced. “But this law is not being implemented in K-P,” he said while threatening to block oil and gas supply from Karak after March next year. Convener of the committee said that priority should be given to the people of areas producing gas that would also uplift the socio-economic condition of the less developed areas.
“Karak, Hangu and Kohat are producing 45,000 barrels oil per day but locals are not given jobs and gas.” SNGPL is bearing Rs5 billion annual loss due to gas theft in these areas but they are not given connections, he said.
The subcommittee directed the Karak DPO to take strict action against those involved in this crime.
The subcommittee called for regularising all the gas connections in K-P and particularly in Karak, adding that it is causing losses to the national exchequer.
Deputy Speaker K-P Imtiaz Ahmad Qureshi admitted that people in his constituency were getting gas supply without legal gas connections. However, he protested that SNGPL has not provided gas supply to people in his area.
Qureshi also raised the issue of water supply. “We have gas and oil but people do not have clean water to drink,” he said. He criticised OGDCL and MOL for not providing funds for clean drinking water. “I have approved Rs150 million for clean water project from pool of royalty but these companies did nothing,” he said.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Nasir Khan said the K-P government had established a judicial complex at a cost of Rs500 million in Karak from the royalty which was supposed to be spent on the projects of welfare of the masses.
MNA Nasir Khan, MPA Shah Faisal Khan, MPA Ziaullah Bangash, Petroleum and Natural Resources Secretary, Additional Secretary, MD Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), MD SNGPL, MD Pakistan State Oil, MD MOL, Pakistan Oil and Gas Company, DPO Kohat and DPO Karak were also present during the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2014.
A subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources on Thursday recommended that oil exploration and production companies and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd hire local workers, especially in areas of their activities in Kohat division.
The subcommittee met at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Abul Nabi Bangash, who blamed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for ignoring public issues. The ruling party, according to Bangash, is unlikely to remain in power due to the attitude of its ministers. “I don’t support the present government but want the current system to continue,” he said.
The subcommittee decided to tour gas fields in Kohat, Karak and Hangu in an effort to inspect the social welfare projects completed or being carried out by the exploration and production companies for the social uplift of the people of Kohat division.
During the meeting, the issue of employment by the E&P companies and SNGPL in the areas of their activities in Kohat division was discussed. Members of the subcommittee said preference should be given to local people in jobs for security purposes.
Bangash, leader of Awami National Party (ANP), said that Article 158 of the Constitution binds the government to give gas supply first to those areas from where it is being produced. “But this law is not being implemented in K-P,” he said while threatening to block oil and gas supply from Karak after March next year. Convener of the committee said that priority should be given to the people of areas producing gas that would also uplift the socio-economic condition of the less developed areas.
“Karak, Hangu and Kohat are producing 45,000 barrels oil per day but locals are not given jobs and gas.” SNGPL is bearing Rs5 billion annual loss due to gas theft in these areas but they are not given connections, he said.
The subcommittee directed the Karak DPO to take strict action against those involved in this crime.
The subcommittee called for regularising all the gas connections in K-P and particularly in Karak, adding that it is causing losses to the national exchequer.
Deputy Speaker K-P Imtiaz Ahmad Qureshi admitted that people in his constituency were getting gas supply without legal gas connections. However, he protested that SNGPL has not provided gas supply to people in his area.
Qureshi also raised the issue of water supply. “We have gas and oil but people do not have clean water to drink,” he said. He criticised OGDCL and MOL for not providing funds for clean drinking water. “I have approved Rs150 million for clean water project from pool of royalty but these companies did nothing,” he said.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Nasir Khan said the K-P government had established a judicial complex at a cost of Rs500 million in Karak from the royalty which was supposed to be spent on the projects of welfare of the masses.
MNA Nasir Khan, MPA Shah Faisal Khan, MPA Ziaullah Bangash, Petroleum and Natural Resources Secretary, Additional Secretary, MD Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), MD SNGPL, MD Pakistan State Oil, MD MOL, Pakistan Oil and Gas Company, DPO Kohat and DPO Karak were also present during the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2014.