February 2, 2006	Thursday	Muharram 3, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: Opposition senators on Wednesday alleged that the Pakistan Petroleum (PPL) was earning billions of rupees profit from the natural resources of Balochistan and Sindh but was not taking steps for the welfare of the people of the two provinces.

The issue was raised by Senator Sanaullah Baloch of the Balochistan National Party during the question hour when Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon in a written reply to his question stated that the PPL had established one college, three schools, one academy, three libraries, five hospitals and two dispensaries in Balochistan.

In the absence of the minister, the replies to the supplementary questions were given by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Raza Hayat Harraj.

Giving details of the institutions set up by the PPL, the minister said schools, colleges, hospitals and dispensaries had been established in Dera Bugti, Pasni, Gwadar, Khuzdar and Bolan.

Mr Harraj said during the financial year 2004-05, the PPL had spent Rs224 million — 2.6 per cent of the total profit and 4.9 per cent of the profit earned from the fields in Sindh and Balochistan — on the social, economic and educational sectors of the two provinces.

Mr Sanaullah Baloch said the PPL was known as “East India Company” in Balochistan. He said the PPL earned about Rs60 billion from the resources of Sindh and Balochistan, but it had established only one college and three schools. He said the PPL had been exploiting the people of Balochistan since long.

“Our wealth is being looted in the worst manners even not adopted by the Britishers,” he said.

Mr Baloch alleged that a wrong reply had been given to his question and suggested that a committee of the house should be formed to visit the area and hold an inquiry into the matter. He said the reply of Mr Harraj showed that Dera Bugti had become New York.

The ruling party’s Senator Nisar Memon supported the suggestion of Mr Baloch and said a four-member committee — two each from the treasury and the opposition benches — be formed to visit the areas and present its report on the issue.