Accountability: OGRA Ordinance amendment proposed

Senator Sassui Palijo said OGRA Ordinance 2002, discriminates against the provinces, especially Sindh and Balochistan

HYDERABAD: A bill proposing Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority be made accountable before the Council of Common Interests and giving representation to the provinces will be submitted in the senate. The proposer of the amendment Senator Sassui Palijo complains that the existing law regulating the authority, OGRA Ordinance 2002, discriminates against the provinces, especially Sindh and Balochistan. “The federation and the bigger province Punjab continue to deprive the smaller provinces of their share,” said Sassui, who belongs to PPP. She called for giving equal authority to the provinces in matters of making decisions and policies in the OGRA. Palijo suggested that the reformed OGRA should be modeled on the system of provincial representation which exists in Indus River System Authority (IRSA). “It’s going to be a first legislation which will provide opportunity to Sindh and Balochistan to become part of the decision making.” Under her proposition three members from the provinces should be included in the organization’s hierarchy.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2015.