QUETTA: The provincial government on Monday decided to revive the Balochistan Oil and Gas Company (BOGC) and register it on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) after the appointment of a managing director and board of directors.

The decision was taken to increase oil and gas exploration in the province as federal government has allotted one block of oil and gas to Balochistan in line with the 18th Amendment.

Balochistan has approached the federal government, seeking allotment of two more blocks.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, agreed to make the BOGC functional on immediate basis to initiate exploration work in the province.

Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development, Sujjad Ahmed Bhutta, Secretary Energy Department, Khaliq Nazar Kiyani, Secretary Finance Noor-Ul-Amin Mengal and Secretary Law, Abdul Rehman Buzdar were present during the meeting.

In a briefing, secretary energy said the BOGC was already registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and would be listed on the PSX after completion of legal formalities.

Balochistan Law Department was directed to provide help and assistance to the Energy Department regarding legal affairs of the company.

CM Alyani said that Balochistan will take up the issue of allotment of two more oil and gas blocks to the province and directed the concerned authorities to prepare a comprehensive case which could be presented to the Council for Common Interest.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2018