KARACHI, April 16: The BHP Billiton has contradicted news report which appeared in Dawn’s April 11 issue under the headline, ‘Demonstration against denial of jobs to local people.’

A company press release issued here says that the correspondent neither ascertained the factual position from the district administration nor any contact was established with the authorised spokesperson of the company to verify facts. “The entire news item has been attributed to certain statements made by various individuals during the so-called protest. It is a fact that no such protest was ever held in Dadu district which has been made as the basis of the news item.”

The company said that certain vested interests appeared to be trying to malign BHP Billiton by distorting facts and figures and fuelling ill-feeling among the people of the area against the company.

Refuting the allegations made against the company, it said it was an ‘equal opportunity employer’ and followed a fair and transparent recruitment policy based on merit. In its field operations at Zamzama, it employs a large number of employees who are residents of Dadu district.

It also said that BHP Billiton, since its inception, had adopted a transparent land acquisition policy under which ‘unprecedented compensation’ was given to land owners from whom the land was acquired for petroleum operations.

It said the company currently supported 11 well-resourced community schools under the community education programme. Besides, the company has also started five health clinics and is training community health workers as part of its ongoing health programme.

For the provision of clean drinking water, it said, the company had installed a water treatment plant based on reverse osmosis technology. This plant provides clean drinking water to a large number of people in the area.