Parliamentarians to identify, execute E&P companies welfare schemes

ISLAMABAD: The members of the national and provincial assemblies have been given important role in identification and execution of social welfare schemes of oil and gas exploration and production companies operating in their respective constituencies.

As per the social welfare guidelines, recently revised by the Petroleum and Natural Resources Division, MNA would be the chairman of Social Welfare Committee of his respective oil and gas producing district, DCO/DC would act as its member/secretary, while MPA, district nazim/chairman of district council, tehsil nazim/chairman of tehsil council, nazim/chairman of union council would be its members, official sources Wednesday told APP.

The social welfare guidelines have been revised to carry out the development schemes in oil and gas producing tehsils and districts across the country in a most effective manner.

"Under the revised guidelines, social welfare schemes will be based on the requirement of areas and identified by concerned MNAs of districts in consultation with representatives of local bodies or local administration," they said.

Facilities like health, education, water supply, improved drainage and sewerage system would be the key features of welfare projects, they said and added that practice of cash donations to patients would be discouraged to end reported complaints of malpractice.

They informed that E&P companies would open a joint bank account with district coordination officers (DCOs) and deputy commissioners (DCs) concerned and deposit the social welfare contribution fund within one month of signing Petroleum Concession Agreement (PCA) and subsequently by January 31, every year.

"DCOs/DCs and E&P companies will sign cheques within a week after receiving complete requisition from the concerned agency," they said adding that the parliamentarians and other concerned would get input of locals in welfare schemes, make publicity of development projects and ensure their timely completion besides holding public hearings in project areas.

They said the companies would provide audit certificate annually from their statutory auditors that the due amount of social welfare obligation had been discharged by transferring to the joint account as per PCA and social welfare guidelines.

The sources said the DCO/DC would submit including among other things, the location, budgets and status of schemes completed, ongoing, or initiated during a period of six months by January and July end each year, while the district and provincial governments would place the reports on their website for information of general public.

On completion of the work, a prescribed 'completion certificate' would be issued by concerned DCOs/DCs within 30 days, while annual progress report of the previous calendar would be forwarded to the division by March 31.