THIS is with reference to Saleem Shahid’s report ‘Civilian control to be restored in Dera Bugti’ (Sept 3).

Contrary to the impression indirectly conveyed by the report, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) is a longstanding stakeholder in Balochistan, particularly in Dera Bugti district, as owner-operator of Sui Gas Field (SGF) and has taken a  demonstrable lead in providing socioeconomic development opportunities for local communities with sustained interventions in education, community healthcare, infrastructure development and capacity building for livelihood generation through on-job and vocational training as well as direct employment.

PPL’s major development initiatives in various sectors include funding and operation of Sui Model School and Girls College, catering to some 2,500 students, besides over 80 annual secondary, higher secondary and postgraduate scholarships for students belonging to Balochistan, including Dera Bugti.

The company also runs Sui Field Hospital that sees over 700 out-patients on a daily basis and has recently constructed the 50-bed PPL Public Welfare Hospital in Sui at a cost of approximately Rs300 million to be operated by the government of Balochistan.

Further, PPL provides approximately two mgpd water and between four and five MMscfd gas free of cost to residents of Sui Town and is currently working with the Public Health Engineering Department on developing a wider distribution network, expected to cost nearly Rs400 million to further improve water supply to end-users.

On the issue of employing Balochistan locals, given the fact that SGF is a declining field with resultant decrease in operational needs and vacancies and there is no agreement per se with tribal representatives, PPL continues to recruit a reasonable number of locals every year on grounds of social obligation. Currently, over 75 per cent of employees in the worker cadre and 20 per cent in officer cadre at SGF are residents of Dera Bugti.

Similarly, the company continues to honour the CBA agreement of Oct 10, 1984, notified in The Gazette of Pakistan on February 17, 1985, giving preferential consideration to sons of deceased and retired PPL staff despite the provision that employment may only be offered in case of vacancies that are steadily declining at SGF.

Additionally, the company has also initiated a special on-job training scheme for diploma-holders and engineers from Balochistan, including Dera Bugti, to build capacity of local communities for livelihood generation, under which it has recruited nearly 100 locals from the province, which include 60 from Dera Bugti. This number is set to increase as fresh recruitment of locals under this scheme is in progress.

We trust this information will clear any misunderstanding regarding the PPL’s role in addressing development challenges and promoting well-being of local communities belonging to Balcohistan, in general, and Dera Bugti, in particular.

SAQUIB HANIF Manager, Corporate Communications Pakistan Petroleum Limited Karachi