Terming the privatisation of Qadirpur gas field as a big blow to nation, naib ameer, Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Liaqat Baloch said that JI has convened All Parties Conference (APC) to avert the privatisation move of gas field.
Privatisation of Qadirpur gas field will not only be a tantamount to the economic murder of thousands of employees but also deprive the country from a huge asset of natural resources, said Baloch while addressing a protest rally of OGDCL labour union here on Monday.
Hundreds of employees of the OGDCL marched from OGDCL office to Constitution Avenue, where they blocked the road and held sit-in against the approval given by CCOP for privatisation of 37 percent shares of the gas field. "If government does not stop privatisation of country's largest gas field, a march from Karachi to Qadirpur will be launched to frustrate the privatisation move, Baloch warned.
JI leader assured the demonstrators that political parties would support their just cause to save this national asset. "We will launch a massive countrywide political move if government failed to withdraw its privatisation decision," he said, adding the government's bid to privatise this gas field has shocked all and sundry. He asked the government to form a technical committee to see whether the privatisation is viable or not.
Addressing the demonstrators, Chaudhry Akram, President OGDCL Labour Union said that the union has decided to move a petition in Sindh High Court to stop the privatisation. "The protest will continue till the government withdraws its decision and we will not allow the government to sell this huge national asset for peanuts," he said.
He said that Qadirpur gas field is providing over 182.54 million dollar annually to national exchequer in shape of 40.57 million dollar royalty, 10.59 million dollar federal excise duty, 52.30 million dollar sales tax and 79.08 million dollar income tax.
Earlier, talking to reporters, CBA secretary general, Aqleem Khan said that the value of explored reserves of Qadirpur gas field is more than 12 billion dollar, while government has planned to sell it just for 2.5 to 3 billion dollar.
This gas field is contributing over Rs 99 billion to national exchequer annually after meeting its operational expenses, he said, adding that it has played a vital role in brining multinational companies in Pakistan giving them incentives of investing 50 percent share in exploration and development of the field. He said that presently the country is facing biggest energy crisis and the crisis will deepen in future if appropriate measures were not taken.
Gas reserves (explored) of the Qadirpur gas field are more than 12 billion dollar as it has over 3.5 billion cubic feet reserves. At present, 24 wells of this gas field are producing 550 MMSCFD gas per annum. There are expectations of 100 MMSCFD increase in gas capacity of the field by the need of 2008 and it would be 650 MMSCFD, he added.
He said that the decision of privatisation of Qadirpur Gas Field will affect huge number of development project in country including Kunnar, Pasakhi, Tando Allayar projects as well as drilling out four new wells.
He said that the Qadirpur gas field is a joint venture of OGDCL, KUFPEC and PKPEP and was developed in three phases and at present producing 1000 barrel oil, 50 MMCFD raw gas to LPL for power generation besides 550 MMSCFD being given to SNGPL.
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