Non-provision of brief irks Petroleum Division panel

ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee on the Petroleum Division met on Friday at the Parliament House, under the Chairmanship of Syed Mustafa Mehmood.

The Committee expressed dissatisfaction over the non-provision of the brief to the National Assembly Secretariat in a timely manner for circulation among Members for advance perusal. The Ministry was directed to ensure that the brief is furnished at least three days prior to the commencement of each meeting.

While expressing satisfaction over the overall progress, the Committee directed that a detailed reply regarding Recommendation No. 04 of the meeting held on 6th January, 2026, be submitted in the next meeting.

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During consideration of the compliance report, Syed Naveed Qamar, MNA, pointed out that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds under the Petroleum Division were not being effectively utilized for social welfare and community development projects by the Petroleum Division as well as the provinces.

He observed that the funds were accumulating and stressed the need for adopting a systematic mechanism or prescribed procedure to ensure their proper utilization.

He further highlighted that the general public, particularly residents of oil and gas producing areas, were suffering due to non-utilization of these funds and were increasingly reluctant to cooperate with Exploration and Production (E&P) companies.

He urged that the matter be resolved at the earliest, failing which it would be raised on the floor of the National Assembly.

The Acting Secretary, Petroleum Division, informed the Committee that the matter had also been raised before the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly and requested one month for further consultation.

The Committee agreed and recommended that the issue be resolved within one month and a comprehensive report be submitted in the next meeting.

The Secretary also undertook to submit a plan outlining the proposed utilization of the funds along with reasons for their previous non-utilization.

The Committee further recommended that a dedicated meeting be convened to review the utilization of the said funds, including their allocation for training of local inhabitants.

The Committee received a detailed briefing on theft and leakages of Unaccounted for Gas (UfG). The Managing Directors of SSGCL and SNGPL briefed the Committee, and Members raised several questions regarding UFG and circular debt. The Additional Secretary, Petroleum Division, informed that the circular debt flow had been controlled; however, the Committee directed that a separate meeting be convened to deliberate specifically on UFG, its leakages, and theft.

The Committee also recommended that a separate meeting be convened on mines and minerals and that the presence of the Minister for Petroleum Division be requested for consideration of the Committee’s recommendations.

The Committee scrutinized eight PSDP projects proposed for the Financial Year 2026–27, placed at Serial Nos. 1–8 in the brief, and recommended them for the next financial year prior to their submission to the Finance Division for inclusion in the Federal Budget.

While endorsing the proposals, the Committee urged the Finance Division and the Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Division to accord priority to these projects and ensure timely financial releases to enable the Petroleum Division to initiate and complete them efficiently.

The Committee also directed the Acting Secretary, Petroleum Division, to submit detailed information in this regard to Committee within a week.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026