January 16, 2003	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 12, 1423

ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: The Orient Petroleum Inc has clarified that its joint ventures with Zaver Petroleum were the successful as the work programme committed for the Sakhi Sarwar Block was the best received amongst all other bidders.

It said the petroleum policy 2001 and petroleum rules 2001 allow the government of Pakistan to accept corporate guarantees/parent company guarantees against work programme commitments and all exploration blocks awarded to various exploration companies have followed this route.

The company said: “Most of the oil exploration companies operating in Pakistan have shifted their expatriate employees to Dubai after September 11, 2001 and declared force majeure in their ongoing operations in Pakistan”.

The company also said that only the group of OPI and ZPL is playing an extensive role in the development of the oil and gas sector of Pakistan in order to meet the energy sector deficit. “This is being done at a time when several companies such as British Gas and Ocean Energy have left Pakistan,” said the company.

Note: A spokesman of the petroleum ministry said that the agreement signing ceremony of Sakhi Sarwar exploration block has been postponed because some of the formalities had not been completed. He said that all the TV and newspaper representatives had to be informed at the eleventh hour about the postponement.