Oil & gas production: procedural policy on the cards for use of royalty funds

The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and members of the provincial assembly from the three districts of Kohat Division are nearly consensus on the procedural policy for the utilization of royalty funds in head of the production of oil and gas from the area. The policy will be announced soon. This was stated by Advisor to KP CM on Energy, Himayatullah Khan while presiding over a high-level meeting regarding royalty funds received by Kohat Division in head of oil and gas.
Besides, members of KP assembly, Amjad Afridi, Zafar Azam, Mian Nisar Gul, Shah Faisal, Zahoor Shakir and Tehsil Nazim Lachi, the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Shahzad Bangash, Secretary Finance, Shakeel Qadir, Secretary Energy Saleem and others attended the meeting.
The Advisor to KP CM assured due consideration to increase in the royalty funds of Kohat Division to resolve the problems of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kohat Division as soon as possible. He said that major share of the royalty funds will be utilized for provision of gas to each and every house of Kohat Division. He said that he is fully aware of the basic requirements of the locals and steps are being taken in this regard. The government, he said, is making efforts for the utilization of the royalty funds in the same sectors. Himayatullah Khan said that the funds received in head of royalty will be utilized for mega projects, gas supply, provision of drinking water, construction and maintenance of roads and arresting electricity, health and education related problems.
He said that the province is producing 60% oil and about 25% gas of the country. But, it is sorrow to state that OGDC, PPL and SNGPL have no representation from the province. In response to the questions of the MPAs from district Karak, Malik Zafar Azam and Mian Nisar Gul Kakakhel regarding the impact of the chemicals on the lives of local residents and livestock, the advisor said that an environmental enquiry team will be constituted for Kohat Division. The team after studying the issue of the environmental pollution will present a comprehensive report to the provincial government in this regard.
The MPAs from district Kohat termed the funds received in head of royalty as meagre and asked the provincial government to take steps for increase in it. The Secretary Energy, Saleem Khan said that a lot of issues are linked with the federal government, which will be taken up with them for granting rights of the province. The Advisor to KP CM on Energy said that whatever procedure is evolved for the utilization of the royalty funds will be aimed at the resolution of the basic local problems.