KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has directed the ministry of petroleum and natural resources to file a concise statement within five days in a matter about employment quota of local people and provision of welfare funds by the oil and gas firms operating in the province.

The two-judge bench headed by Justice K.K. Agha also asked the Director General of Petroleum Concession (DGPC) to file a report confirming that 12 petroleum companies were carrying out their assignments in Sindh in accordance with law, particularly in terms of percentage of local employment. In case of any violation he would state it in the report and steps taken to rectify the same.

It further observed that it appeared to be a difference of opinion between various stakeholders as to who should be responsible and bear the cost of providing gas to villagers located within five kilometres of each exploration and production (E&P) site.

The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and the Sindh government have filed their concise statements.

The bench directed the ministry of petroleum and natural resources through an additional attorney general to file a concise statement within five days.

It further said that since the matter involved an important constitutional question regarding the binding nature and enforceability of a decision made by the Council of Common Interests (CCI), senior counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan was appointed as amicus curiae to assist the court on this important legal issue.

The bench also directed the attorney general of Pakistan and the advocate general of Sindh to ensure their presence on Dec 9.

The court asked the managing director of the OGDCL to appear in person on next hearing to explain the position and file an understandable report containing percentage of employment of local and non-local persons in each E&P company with a percentage of skilled and non-skilled workers after the lawyer for OGDCL filed a report which was not readily understandable.

The reports submitted by the DCs indicated that slow but steady progress is being made in carrying out the social welfare projects in each district. The bench said that more progress must be made before the next hearing and called further reports from DCs.

Earlier, the representatives of various stakeholders furnished their reports which were carrying difference of figures regarding percentage of local employment and who should be responsible to bear the cost of providing gas to villagers located within five kilometres of each E&P site.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2019