ISLAMABAD: Federal government has directed oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) companies to enhance their development spending on welfare schemes under social corporate responsibility (CSR) in Karak and Kohat region to minimize the incidents of gas theft And unrest, sources said.

Nadeem Babar Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum and State Minister for Narcotics Shehryar Khan Afridi chaired a meeting to review progress of CSR activities by E&P companies, being undertaken in districts of Karak and Kohat on Monday. Shahid Khattak, MNA from Karak also attended the meeting.

MoS Afridi said that oil and gas sector must meet their CSR obligations for development of operational areas and ensuring welfare of the people, residing in the localities of oil and gas producing areas.

SAPM said the companies operating in and around Kohat and Karak districts must provide employment to locals, social welfare schemes and infrastructure development work. Babar also directed the relevant companies to ensure the smooth execution of projects under CSR in these districts.

Recently Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan formed a lawmakers committee to engage all the stakeholders to resolve the disputes between the people and the oil and gas companies operating in the Kohat division.

According to reports, around Rs 28 million daily theft of natural gas in Karak district has caused a loss of Rs 7635.5 million to the national exchequer during the first nine months of the current financial year. However, the national exchequer had suffered Rs 8,277.1 million loss during the last fiscal year 2018/19.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020