Oil & gas discovery areas: government urged to provide 80 percent non-technical jobs to locals

The sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources, while calling for taking strict action against those involved in gas theft, recommended the government to provide 80 percent non-technical jobs to locals from where oil/gas is being discovered.
The sub-committee, which met here on Tuesday with Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash in the chair, discussed several issues including gas theft, illegal gas connections and setting up of oil refinery in Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa province. He informed the participants of the meeting that Sui-Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) is suffering an estimated loss of Rs 6 billion per year due to non-existence of gas distribution system in Kohat.
He added that due to no gas infrastructure by the SNGPL in the area, the locals have installed their own pipelines in Kohat region and are not paying any amount to the gas company as a result the company suffers an estimated loss of Rs 6 billion per year. The locals have the right over the jobs in gas producing areas, while in Kohat region local youth are facing serious unemployment problems; whereas people from other areas have been provided jobs in oil/gas fields in Kohat region.
He urged the oil and gas exploration and productions companies to provide non-technical jobs to the local youth of Kohat and Karak districts. District Police officer Karak, while briefing the committee, said that the police have arrested all those persons involved in the gas theft. Secretary petroleum Abid Saeed, while briefing the meeting, said that a total Rs 36 billion were provided for developmental work in gas producing areas from gas developmental surcharge of which Rs 4.2 billion were released to KP.
The meeting discussed in details the progress of E&P companies for the social uplift of the people of Kohat Division. The senators expressed their dissatisfaction over incorporating the local population in the development work. Representatives of MOL Pakistan told the committee that oil digging continues in the division, but the company faces threats and hence cannot work properly. The committee suggested that instead of hiring retired army and police personnel, young people from the local population should be included, saying that it will not only provide means of earning to local youth, but also help protect them to become a victim of extremists groups.
Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash emphasised the importance of local population and said that priority should be given to the people in those areas wherein oil is being produced. He further said constitution does not allow the authorities to give gas supply to everywhere in Pakistan and neglect the areas in which it is produced. Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash also highlighted the issue of provision of gas to Thall and surrounding areas. He said that former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had approved the scheme; however despite issuance of several directives in this regard no gas has been provided so far. Article 158 of the constitution provides that priority must be given to the gas producing areas over the other parts of the country. He added that incumbent government is reluctant to release funds for the said schemes.