KARACHI - The PPP Sindh has said the federal government is not implementing on the Constitution to ensure giving 50 percent ownership in the income on oil and gas reserves in the country.
Addressing a Press conference here on Thursday, PPP Sindh general secretary Taj Haider alleged that under the 18th amendment the provinces and the federal government are equal partners/owners in the resources of oil and gas in the country but unfortunately it is not being implemented yet. He said the Sindh government in collaboration with Dawood University of Engineering and Technology and the UNDP Pakistan had organised a two-day conference in the City.
The conference titled ‘Operationalising the Joint and Equal Ownership of Oil and Gas Resources: Issues and Options’ will be held here from December 21-22, he added.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah will be the chief guest and he will inaugurate the conference. The closing session would be presided over by Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch.
The chief ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and Punjab are also expected to participate in the conference, he added.
A special feature of the conference will be the keynote address of Senator Raza Rabbani in the inaugural session. He will highlight the aim and purpose of joint and equal ownership of oil and gas resources under the Article 172 of the Constitution.
Spread over six sessions on different issues and options, the conference will be addressed by eminent political figures, experts, economists and academicians, said Taj.
He further said the federal government was still occupying the 75 percent shares in the OGDC which immediately be reversed with the 50-50 percent share between the province and the federal government. He added if Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project is not feasible then 70 percent funds of over US$4 billon, collected for this project, must be returned to Sindh.
10,000-litre diesel seized
Pakistan Coast Guards has seized 10,000 litres of diesel at Northern Bypass on Thursday. According to the spokesman, PCG seized an oil tanker from Northern Bypass carrying about 10,000 litres of smuggled diesel.
Two individuals were also apprehended. The confiscated tanker, the diesel and the individuals were handed over to Pakistan Customs’ Intelligence for further legal disposal.