MOL praises investment climate in KP

Says contribution doubled during 2 years

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said people have started realisation of the benefits of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government’s policies aimed at empowerment of the general masses.

According to an official handout, he was talking to a delegation of MOL led by its Chief Operating Officer Dr Berislav Gaso and Group Regional Advisor Ali Murtaza Abbas.

The chief minister said transparency, decentralisation of authority and operational autonomy of the institutions, devolution of powers to the local elected bodies, improvement in efficiency of the bureaucracy and services, and eradication of corruption are at the core of these policies.

“For ensuring transparency, the PTI-led government has promulgated the Right to Information Act,” he said, adding, “Each and every citizen now has access to the inside affairs of every government institution.”

For operational autonomy, the new Police Act and the health sector reforms are sufficient proof, said the chief minister.

Pervez Khattak pointed out that 30 per cent development budget has been given to the local governments while all industrial zones have also been given to independent bodies managed by autonomous boards.

The members of all such boards are selected from the private sectors, he added.  All these reforms, the chief minister pointed out, are backed by proper legislation enacted through the provincial assembly after proper consultation.

Same, he said, is the case with the Right to Service Act whereby government functionaries are bound to deliver specific services in specifically stipulated times and the Whistle Blowers Protection and Vigilance Act ensuring protection and financial benefits to such blowers. These autonomous boards responsible for the management of these autonomous bodies are given just one line budgets. The government doesn’t interfere with their internal affairs. Internally, the chief minister said they are free to manage own affairs.

Chief Operating Officer, Dr Berislav Gaso, revealed that MOL had doubled its investment from around $2 billion to over $5 billion during the last one year. He said same was the case with their contribution to the exploration of oil and gas.

As part of the corporate social responsibility, the MOL delegation presented a cheque for $500,000 for water supply, sanitation and other social welfare schemes in the areas of their operations.

The delegation assured they would increase contributions to the social sector like education, primary health, sports, water and sanitations as well as their investments in different other sectors besides oil and gas explorations.

Currently MOL Pakistan is the operator of the Tal, Margala and Margala North blocks. It has participation in two non-operated blocks — Karak and Ghauri — in KP.