ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court indicated on Thursday that it would determine how much money oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) companies owed to different districts of the country in terms of social sector development.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, had taken notice on complaints lodged by Taluka Bar Association president Abdul Hakeem Khoso and Advocate Anwar Nizamani about environmental pollution, dilapidation of roads caused by movement of heavy machinery and E&P companies’ lack of interest in developing the areas of exploration, especially in Sanghar district of Sindh.

The court, which had asked Director General of Petroleum Concessions in the Ministry of Petroleum Saadullah Shah to submit details of the amount of money spent by E&P companies on social development and infrastructure, suggested to him to visit Sanghar and get first hand information about problems being faced by local people because these firms had failed to meet their contractual obligations.

The bench praised Saadullah Shah for submitting a detailed report in a short time in pursuance of the court’s order.

The court asked him to also submit details of licences given to oil companies and the policy under which these had been issued.

The court directed all 26 E&P companies to deposit the balance amount in a social welfare fund, if any, with joint accounts of respective district coordination officers till the next hearing.

It ordered all DCOs, commissioners and magistrates to submit reports on founds spent by E&P companies on social sector development in their areas.

The court asked Saadullah Shah to inform it about the mechanism for expanding social welfare schemes. It issued a notice to the top law officer of Sindh over the issue of oil and gas royalty.

The court directed Additional Attorney General Shah Khawar to ask the authorities concerned to submit the required details in the case before the next hearing which will be held at the Karachi registry of Supreme Court on Sept 19.