Senate panel urges oversight for oil, gas drilling across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum on Friday voiced urgent concerns regarding oil and gas drilling activities across Pakistan, particularly focusing on the contentious third-party sales linked to the Badin-IV South Block in Sindh province.

The parliamentary panel that met here with Senator Umer Farooq in the chair expressed alarm over the detrimental effects of these sales on national interests, citing repeated damage caused by third-party transactions. Following recommendations from a recent inquiry, officials disclosed plans to suspend all operations in the Badin-IV South Block until further notice.

Chairman Farooq emphasized the need for a follow-up hearing to thoroughly investigate the situation, calling for clear timelines and accountability measures to ensure transparency and proper oversight in this critical sector.

At the forefront of discussions was the issue of third-party sales linked to the Badin-IV South Block. Members of the committee raised alarms over the detrimental impacts of these sales on national interests, citing a pattern of damage caused by transactions handled through third parties. In the light of recommendations stemming from a second inquiry, officials revealed that a request has been made to suspend all activities in the Badin-IV South Block until further notice.

In addition to the Badin-IV South Block discussions, the committee received a detailed briefing on oil and gas exploration and production activities conducted by various companies over the past three years. Senators probed into the significant delays associated with drilling operations, particularly questioning the fate of wells that have not seen any drilling activity in the past six months.

The secretary of the Petroleum Division addressed these concerns, explaining that although initial 2D and 3D surveys had been completed, maintaining a qualified technical team and assessing potential drilling opportunities required considerable time and careful analysis. Senator Farooq pressed for a more robust reporting mechanism, urging that comprehensive data on each oil and gas company’s performance and accomplishments be presented at the committee’s next meeting.