A Senate committee has given the federal government two weeks to propose a mechanism for sharing profits from oil and gas resources with provinces. The committee directed the government to implement Article 172(3) of the Constitution by either transferring half of the oil and gas fields to the provinces or sharing the profits generated from these resources.
The committee warned that disciplinary action could be taken against the Petroleum Division if the government fails to present an acceptable proposal within the given timeframe. Members also raised concerns about the implementation of provincial quotas in federal employment and the distribution of rights and benefits linked to oil and gas resources.
The committee chairperson stressed that the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan made full implementation of the 18th Amendment particularly important. Establishment Division Secretary Nabeel Awan supported the committee’s position but said there was no quota system for promotions, a claim disputed by committee members.
