Islamabad, The Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum, led by Senator Prince Ahmed Omer Ahmedzai, convened today to evaluate the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts of oil and gas companies in Balochistan. The meeting, held at the Old PIPs Hall, Parliament Lodges in Islamabad, focused on assessing the impact and scope of these initiatives.

According to Senate of Pakistan, seven oil and gas companies presented their CSR initiatives and operations. Prime Company opened the session, detailing its various schemes. Al-Haj Company followed, disclosing expenditures in different divisions, with notable investments in Baska North and Potwar South. Deewan Petroleum shared insights on their past initiatives, focusing on clean water supply, education, and relief activities. The Polish Oil and Gas Company, PGNiG, emphasized its water supply efforts, addressing scarcity in affected areas.

Orient Petroleum Company presented their recent projects, highlighting the ongoing installation of water pumps in villages grappling with water shortages. Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration (KUFPEC) briefed the committee on their contributions in different regions, while the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil and Gas Company Limited (KPOGCL) shared their optimism about future discoveries and operations.

Senator Prince Ahmed Omer Ahmedzai, the convenor, recommended integrating sports into regional CSR efforts. He also urged oil and gas companies to focus on skill development and entrepreneurship initiatives, emphasizing the potential for these efforts to drive self-sustainability and economic growth in Pakistan.

Senior officers from the Ministry of Energy’s Petroleum Division provided insights into the social obligations and operational aspects of the companies, discussing challenges like joint account openings, regular social meetings, and political representation in district social committees. The convenor stressed that oil and gas companies should not be compared to NGOs in their approach and responsibilities.

The meeting concluded with a decision to implement the convenor’s recommendations, primarily focusing on skill development initiatives. Senator Fida Muhammad and other senior officials from the Ministry of Energy, along with representatives from the participating companies, were in attendance.