January 24, 2003	Friday	Ziqa’ad 20, 1423

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MULTAN, Jan 23: The recent “gas crisis” will help the issue of Sui gas royalty take centre stage.

Bugti tribesmen are said to be angry over the non- implementation of written agreements between them, the federal government and, oil and gas companies.

Half of the country’s gas needs are reportedly met from the Sui gas fields in Balochistan. The matter of royalty had always been a controversial subject between Balochistan and the centre.

The recent feelings of betrayal caught the Bughtis in the middle of last year when an army contingent entered Dera Bugti to guard Sui gas installations in the face of growing threats by tribesmen over a number of issues, including the renewal of the agreement on land and water rent between Nawab Bugti and the government.

To the annoyance of the Bugti chief, the government also established an intelligence network in the area.

Later on, the process of negotiations was initiated between the Bugtis and the companies — Pakistan Petroleum Limited and Oil and Gas Development Corporation — reportedly under the supervision of Corps commander, Quetta.

When contacted, tribal elder and close aide of Nawab Bugti (did not wanted to be named) who had been in the middle of negotiations from June, 2002 to December, said it was the royalty and other related matters that were the cause of unrest in the Sui area, and not the Mazari-Bugti clashes.

He said that the royalty of Sui gas was determined on a well-head price of Rs9 per 1,000 square feet in the early 1950s. In Sindh it was Rs160 and up to Rs240 in Punjab.

He said of the total amount received as well-head price only 12.5 per cent came to Balochistan and the rest - 87.5 per cent went to the federal government, PPL and OGDC.

He said jobs for the people of Bugti area in particular and Balochistan in general in gas companies, and poverty in the province were issues discussed with the company heads in the presence of the corps commander last year.