Quetta:
Balochistan National Party (BNP) MPA Sana Baloch, while addressing the attention-grabbing notice in the Provincial Assembly, pointed out that the federal government had allowed companies to explore for mineral resources in the provinces, including Balochistan, without taking the provinces into confidence. Blocks were allocated which is against the constitution
The Balochistan Assembly formed a special technical committee to look into the details of petroleum exploration blocks given to state oil and gas companies without taking the province into confidence.
He said that licenses have been issued to three big companies to explore for oil and gas in Balochistan. These companies will spend billions of rupees on exploration work while the province will get only 30 30,000 out of this huge investment.
Sana Baloch told the House that a company would invest 24 24 billion in Balochistan, but the provincial government was not consulted before the search license was issued.
He claimed that oil and gas reserves had already been discovered in Kohlu and Kalat but no one was allowed to visit these areas.
He said that the provincial government should demand from the federal government to provide details of agreements with the companies that will operate in Balochistan.
The BNP (Mengal) lawmaker said that the Balochistan government should also issue an explanation in this regard and form a technical committee comprising members of the parties represented in the House.
Participating in the discussion, Education Minister Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind said that oil and gas reserves were discovered in Machh, however, no representative of the area was taken into confidence in this regard. He said that one member of each party was in the committee. Should be added.
Mir Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali, a former chief minister and member of the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), said it was a constitutional issue and that the constitution “ensured our rights and no one could deprive us of them.” He supported the establishment of a technical committee to look into the matter.
Nasrullah Zari of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) said the provincial government was not asked about anything because the decisions were taken by bureaucrats and a committee should be formed on the issue.
Speaker Provincial Assembly Mir Abdul Qaddos Bizenjo approved the formation of a technical committee to take up this important issue with the federal government.
