SHC asks oil and gas companies to submit employees’ details

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court ordered on Tuesday the oil and gas companies operating in Badin and Kamber Shahdadkot to present details of locals employed by them.

A division bench, headed by Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh, was hearing a plea filed by plaintiff Aftab seeking contempt of court proceedings over the non-implementation of court orders. The court also summoned the Sindh chief secretary to the next hearing on October 30.

The companies have failed to carry out welfare and developmental work locally, the petition states. The cleric hired by Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) in Kandhkot belongs to Azad Kashmir while salaries in PPL are dispersed through a third-party, it reads, adding that influential landlords are part of the third-party that get a handsome amount. Out of 90 officers in PPL, only three are locals, it says.

A report submitted by former Ghotki deputy commissioner stated that Qadirpur Gas Field didn’t release any funds for development despite testifying that they had done so.

The court remarked that these companies were obliging feudal lords and not residents. He asked whether the residents should leave the area since the companies only seemed to need resources. The court also said that the deputy commissioner was transferred because he had revealed the truth in his report.

The court ordered the newly-appointed Ghotki DC to produce an affidavit with details of funds spent on development since 2013.

Kamber Shahdadkot DC Javed Jageerani said that only one of six engineers is local. The court reprimanded the DC and asked if he was aware that injustice was being done with the locals. The court added that the DC shouldn’t create a situation where future generations will be compelled to beg.

The court also reprimanded Mazrani Gas Field officers and demanded the report of employees, including clerics by the next hearing.

Source: Express Tribune