Security clearance for Khuzdar oil exploration to be settled: NA body.

ISLAMABAD -- The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Energy on Friday decided to summon officials of the departments concerned to settle the issue of security clearance and remove restrictions on oil and gas exploration in Khuzdar.

Dr Imran Khattak, chairman of the committee, observed that the parliamentary panel should play a major role in oil and gas development in the country, especially in Balochistan.

The matter was taken up for discussion by Sardar Akhtar Mengal, chairman of the Balochistan National Party, who criticised the authorities concerned for not giving security clearance to oil and gas exploration in Khuzdar.

Mr Mengal asked senior OGDCL officials attending the meeting of the committee to explain reasons for the delay in the exploration of oil and gas in Khuzdar.

'There was a meeting in 2014 and some work was started by the OGDCL, but everything is standstill now,' Mr Mengal said.

Akhtar Mengal regrets that work has been lingering since 2014

In reply, Dr Saeed Jadoon, the executive director of exploration of OGDCL, said the meeting was held by senior OGDCL officials and it was presided over by Mr Mengal himself at that time.

'We had marked the well and completed our initial works, but there has to be a security clearance from the Frontier Corps as it was responsible for maintaining law and order in most areas of Balochistan and an NOC is also required from the provincial government,' Dr Jadoon said.

'The other two stakeholders are locals who are cooperating and we, the company, are ready to start road construction in a week after the security clearance is received,' he said.

Mr Mengal informed the committee that a settlement was reached with the OGDCL and a similar agreement...