KARACHI: The Sindh High Court expressed on Monday its satisfaction over the social welfare schemes being implemented in 27 districts of Sindh under the social development funds provided by oil and gas exploration and production companies.

Headed by Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha, a two-judge bench was hearing a petition seeking directives for the authorities concerned to ensure implementation of the directions given by the Supreme Court.

In 2014, the SC had issued directives in the Abdul Hakeem Khoso case to the oil and gas exploration and production companies as well as the federal and provincial departments to fulfil their obligations in respect of dispersing and monitoring funds collected from these companies, to the district administration for uplift of communities through the social welfare schemes.

During Monday’s hearing, the secretary of the energy department, government of Sindh, who had been appointed the focal person for the district commissioners, explained in detail the schemes that had been completed and/or were going on with the funds allocated for and spent by each district.

‘Under the Social Welfare Obligations, Rs3,116.55m was received’

The Sindh advocate general submitted progress reports of the deputy commissioners of the relevant districts, stating that up to July 15, 2021 under the head of Production Bonus Rs6,459.31 million was received from the companies and 661 schemes were completed with an amount of Rs4,188.45m, and Rs1,934.45m was available for 153 ongoing schemes.

Under the head of Marine Research and Coastal Deve­lopment Fee, Rs456.04m was received, and 19 schemes were completed with Rs211.03m and Rs217.93m was available for 45 ongoing schemes, the reported added.

The report further stated that under the Social Welfare Obligations, Rs3,116.55m was received, 379 schemes with Rs1,493.90m were completed and Rs1,263.28m was being spent on 450 ongoing schemes.

While taking the deputy commissioners’ progress reports on record, the bench expressed its overall satisfaction over the completed schemes and pace of work on the ongoing ones with a few exceptions.

The bench observed that the projects of construction of roads should not be carried out under the social welfare schemes as construction of roads was a responsibility of the provincial government.

Justice Agha also commended the focal person and the district administration for doing appreciable work for those poor and oppressed people who had no voice in the current dispensation.

However, he observed that with the schemes of water supply and drainage, the schemes for provision of facilities of free internet, libraries and scholarships should also be included in the social uplift projects.

The bench adjourned the matter to Jan 17, when a progress report on the status of the pending schemes will be submitted.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2021