Sub-Committee of Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum meets to assess CSR initiatives

ISLAMABAD, Dec 05 (SABAH):  The Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum, convened by Senator Prince Ahmed Omer Ahmedzai, met today at the Old PIPs Hall, Parliament Lodges. The purpose of the sub-committee meeting was to assess the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives carried out by oil and gas companies, both public and private, in Balochistan.

During the session, seven oil and gas companies presented their initiatives and operations. The presentations commenced with Prime Company, where the officer briefed the committee members on their initiatives and schemes. Subsequently, officers from Al-Haj Company detailed their expenditures, revealing total spending of Rs.300,000 in the Baska North division and approximately Rs.254,908 in the Potwar South division. Deewan Petroleum offered insights into their spending and schemes from previous years, emphasizing their focus on clean water supply, educational programs, free bus services, and flood relief activities.

Similarly, PGNiG (Polish Oil and Gas Company) explained its main CSR deposits, domains, and social welfare programs, highlighting water supply as their primary focus to address scarcity in the areas. The convenor, Senator Prince Ahmed Omer Ahmedzai, recommended that the officers introduce sports into the region.

Moreover, Orient Petroleum Company showcased their recent projects and raised concerns about water shortages, informing the committee members about their ongoing installation of water pumps in various villages. KUFPEC (Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration) briefed the committee on their corporate responsibility approach, specifying contributions of 18 million in Chakwal, 10 million in Attock, and 1 million in Kohat. Additionally, KPOGCL (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil and Gas Company Limited) presented their operations and discoveries, expressing optimism about future discoveries.

The convenor of the sub-committee suggested that all oil and gas companies should prioritize skill development and entrepreneurship initiatives. By emphasizing these aspects, individuals will initiate a transition towards self-sustainability, ultimately benefiting both Pakistan and its economy.

Moreover, senior officers from the Oil and Petroleum division provided briefings on the social obligations and proceedings of companies per guidelines from previous years. They also discussed the operational aspects of companies, noting that there are 15 operating companies, with 8 of them being local. Additionally, they clarified whether these companies were government-owned or private entities.

The senior officers also explained the collective issues faced by the companies, stating that these include the opening of joint accounts in districts, not conducting regular social meetings and diverse political representation in district social committees. The convenor of the sub-committee remarked that oil and gas companies should not be regarded in the same way as NGOs.

The sub-committee concluded by deciding to implement the convenor’s recommendations, primarily focusing on initiatives in the field of skill development.

In attendance were Senator Fida Muhammad, senior officials from the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), and officers from the respective companies.