NewsSunday, April 29, 2007
Sindh and Balochistan team up for oil, gasBy Razzak Abro
KARACHI: For the first time in the history of the two smaller provinces, Sindh and Balochistan have developed an official demand with the federal government that it declare oil and gas provincial subjects.
The move is being considered important as the federal government was already working on granting provincial autonomy. Its importance increases after taking into consideration that both provinces have Pakistan Muslim League (PML)-led governments in power, besides the Centre.
According to official sources, the Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) departments of both provinces received two working papers prepared by their mines and mineral departments on oil and gas. Both provinces, which are rich in these resources, had asked to their IPC departments to take up their demand before the federal government. It is likely that the matter would be taken up at a forthcoming meeting of the federal IPC in Islamabad.
Provincial Secretary of Mines and Mineral Sindh Abdul Hameed Akhund confirmed that his department had prepared a working paper. He told Daily Times that the demand was justified as the federal government was already working on a plan to grant provincial autonomy to the provinces.
The department has forwarded its paper to the provincial inter-provincial coordination department. Sindh minister for IPC, Dr Suhrab Sarki, would present it at the forthcoming federal IPC ministerial meeting.
Recently the federal government fully authorized the Sindh government to conduct the exploration of methane gas and complete different stages of its development on its own. The Sindh government termed this the first initiative made by the federal government towards granting provincial autonomy.
The Sindh government received about Rs 38 billion from the federal government during the current year on account of royalties on oil and gas production. Sources said that in case the province is granted total control of these natural resources, the Sindh government would be much richer and that would be the case with Balochistan also.
Both provinces would be able to make direct contacts with international companies and independently sign agreements for its natural resources such as oil and gas. After they are given these rights they would not be dependent on the federal government that is the sole authority to decide on natural gas and oil for the provinces.
Courtesy DailyTimes.com.pk