'Govt to address grievances of people in gas-rich areas'.

PESHAWAR -- The federal government is striving to address grievances of people in the oil and gas producing districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to sensitise the local populace and their political representatives regarding the financial impact of gas theft in southern districts.

According to a statement issued here on Saturday, Secretary Petroleum Mian Asad Hayauddin visited Karak district to discuss issues related to the oil and gas with MNA Shahid Khattak, MPAs Mian Nisar Gul, Malik Zafar Azam and Aasia Khattak and nazims of Karak, Takht-i-Nasrati and Banda Daud Shah tehsils.

It was stated that the secretary was accompanied by senior officials from the petroleum division and SNGPL.

Petroleum secretary holds meeting with Karak MNA, MPAs

He chaired a meeting in the DC office wherein the MNA and MPAs highlighted the issues pertaining to exploration and production (E and P) companies operating in the southern districts.

The elected representatives informed the secretary that production bonus and social welfare funds were not being properly utilised in Karak district which produced 400 MMCFD of gas in addition to over 50,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate daily.

During the meeting, the elected representatives stressed the need for setting up of a 100-bed hospital in Karak apart from constructions of roads and vocational training centre for women.

The companies' representatives said that they were fulfilling the social sector responsibilities as per petroleum concession agreement.

The funds deposited...