National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources on Tuesday decided to call legal experts from the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments to get resolve the issue of undue delay in the release of 10 per cent funds of royalty for the protection of gas sector of the province.
The meeting was held here under Chaudhry Bilal Ahmed Virk at the OGDCL. The panel discussed the matter of theft of crude oil from oil field in Karak district. They also took up the matter of NOC by the Pakistan State Oil to owner of petrol pumps after expiry of their lease agreements etc.
While considering the measures taken by the KP government to address the theft of gas in Hangu and Karak districts. The panel was informed by the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources that the KP government has not fulfilled its agreement for release of 10% funds from royalty collection to the protection of gas sector in the province.
The meeting unanimously decided that the legal experts from federal and the provincial governments would be called in the next meeting to resolve the matter. Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi said if KP police and FIA were unable to investigate the case then the case will be transferred to NAB.
He said that the KP government has failed to control gas theft at Karak. “Gas theft worth one crore per hour is being done in KPK and provincial government is unable to control gas theft,” federal minister said. KP’s home secretary assured the panel that the government will leave no stone unturned to stop gas theft and punish all those involve in the crime.
He said that the KP government has no objection on FIA or NAB to conduct the investigation into gas theft at Karak. It is unfortunate that MOL management has not cooperated with provincial government of KP regarding investigation against gas theft at Karak in the installations of MOL. The MOL management used to say that gas theft case does not come under the purview of provincial government, the official said.
The home secretary informed the panel that they have made their efforts to stop the theft in question areas, however, due to shortage of security staff they were unable to stop the theft of oil. Moreover, he stated that the matter of oil theft should be referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The panel decided that NAB should be called in the next meeting for their views on the matter. They directed to FIA and the home secretary for further consultation before the upcoming meeting. FIA official once again requested the panel to transfer the case to NAB if it is interested to investigate the matter as a scam. “Neither KP police nor MOL management has cooperated with the FIA during its investigation,” the official said.
Committee chairman Bilal Ahmed Virk said that the provincial government was not interested in investigation and was making new justifications on every meeting from last two years. Despite passing two years, the matter of theft not resolved as no progress was made so far by the KP government and FIA, he said.
The MOL representative present on the occasion said that they have installed state of the art instruments, formed mobile teams to monitor the pipeline and to stop gas theft at Kark field. Company’s regional advisor Ali Murtaza Abbas said the issue of theft of crude oil in Karak was highlighted by MOL itself. “We have taken every possible step to stop such things/gas theft,” he said.
