KARAK: A local rights organisation has renewed its demand for establishment of an oil refinery in Karak district.

The demand was raised at a meeting of Khattak Ittehad chaired by its president Haji Ilyas at Chokara here on Sunday.

The meeting expressed displeasure over the statement of the chief minister’s adviser Amjad Afridi that oil refinery could not be constructed in Karak as it faced water shortage, and resolved that they would not let anyone to shift the refinery to other district on the pretext of water scarcity.

The participants claimed that establishment of refinery in the district was the right of the people as the district was the largest producer of oil and gas. They added that Karak produced 85 per cent oil and gas in Kohat division and said that water shortage should not be an excuse for shifting the mega project away from Karak district.

The elders resolved to launch a protest movement in case the project was moved away and demanded of the government to start work on it as early as possible to settle the issue once for all.

The meeting expressed concern over the misuse of oil and gas royalty funds and resolved to make accountable those who were misusing the public money.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2014