January 19, 2003	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 15, 1423

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DADU, Jan 18: Multinational oil and gas exploration companies are reluctant to employ Sindhi youth and do not pay compensation to local landowners for their land.

This was stated by the chairman of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party, Dr Qadir Magsi, while speaking at an all-party conference held in Sehwan on Saturday.

The all-parties conference was held under the aegis of the Natural Resources Rights Organization (NARRO).

Criticizing LASMO, BHP, OMB, Premier, PPL and other multinational companies for their reluctance to provide jobs to the Sindhi people, Dr Magsi complained that LASMO seldom paid compensation to landowners and if any of them demanded compensation for his land, the company officials register false cases against them.

The general secretary of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONM), Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, said that the federal government was not providing adequate development funds despite receiving a huge amount from Sindh under the head of different taxes.

Commenting on the worsening joblessness situation, he said that the people of Sindh were being driven to commit suicides because of unemployment and poverty.

Criticizing the multinational oil and gas exploration companies, he said that they were hardly spending two per cent of their profits despite exploiting Sindh’s huge reserves of oil and gas.

He also expressed his surprise over the oil companies reluctance to even appoint a cook from their area of operations.

The chairman of the Seraiki Qaumi Movement, Makhdoom Muzaffar Hussain Hashmi, said that a drought-like situation prevailed throughout Sindh and the people were searching for fresh water in different parts of Kachho, Thar and Kohistan areas.

The district general secretary of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Mohammad Qasim Bozdar, the district president of the Sindh Democratic Alliance, Roshan Buriro, a leader of the Jeay SIndh Qaumi Mahaz, Maula Bakhsh Laghari, the Nazim of Kotri taluka, a Jeay Sindh Movement leader, Niaz Panhwar, the chairman of the NARRO, Basheer Oatho and others also spoke on the occasion.