The Department of Natural Resources of Sindh Government has complained in its report that Sindh Government has not been informed about the details and the quantum of natural resources in province by the Center. The report by the department said that (apart from Coal, Gold, Uranium, Oil and Gas) Sindh is rich in Copper, Granite, Marble and China Clay. Read News Version Published in Daily Kawish
Courtesy: Rights and Movements + Sindhi daily Kawish, 14 November, 2014
ISLAMABAD: The Mari Petroleum Company, a joint venture of the government and the Fauji Foundation, announced on Monday a ‘significant’ gas and condensate discovery with estimated reserves of about 20 billion cubic feet (BCF) in Sujawal district of Sindh.
“We have been blessed with a significant gas and condensate discovery in Sujawal Block’s Sujjal-1 well,” said the announcement.
The company termed the discovery significant because it was the first hydrocarbon discovery in Lower Goru Upper C-Sand in the southernmost part of the country.
It said the discovery would result in expansion of the hydrocarbon potentials for other exploration and production companies operating in the area, thus opening up the country’s prospects of tapping into new reservoirs in the region.
Read more » DAWN
http://www.dawn.com/news/1105925/gas-reserves-found-in-sujawal
A historic, long-term deal for the delivery of Russian gas to China that has been 10 years in the making is 98 percent ready, Russia’s Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky has said. All that’s needed are the two countries’ signatures, he added.
Read more » RT
http://rt.com/business/158396-gasprom-russia-china-cnpc/
Pakistan discovers new gas reserves in Sindh
KARACHI: Huge reserves of natural gas have been discovered in Sindh as Pakistan struggles to overcome crippling energy crisis.
According to Geo News report, 39 million cubic feet gas reserves have been discovered during the drilling of wells in Sanghar. The report said 65 percent shares of the project are owned by the PPL. According to initial estimates, 106.8 million cubic feet natural gas would be produced.
70 percent of natural gas reserves in Pakistan are located in Sindh.
Courtesy: The News
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-105916-Pakistan-discovers-new-gas-reserves-in-Sindh
ISLAMABAD: As Islamabad and Tehran set up a joint contracting company to complete the construction of the $7.5 billion IP gas pipeline project within the next 15 months, Pakistan does not appear apologetic and says that any other government would have done what the PPP-led government did.
“Pakistan continues to suffer from huge energy deficiency and this directly affects our industry and GDP growth. Gas is the cheapest commodity to generate electricity. We need to look at all possible sources of energy including the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (Tapi) gas pipeline. The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline will meet only half the shortfall of energy needs of Pakistan and not our full demand. Pakistan has to do what it deems fit and what is in its national interest. Lack of economic growth has also seen peace stalled in the region,” Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar told ‘The News’.
President Asif Ali Zardari is also credited widely for improving bilateral relations with Iran, investing in the region, and desperately seeking energy from a country facing severe sanctions from the West because of its nuclear policy under the guidelines of the IAEA.
Continue reading Pakistan to do what it deems fit, says Khar
By: Ayaz Latif Palijo
Sindh has 6th largest Coal reserves in the world. Sindh contributes 71.6% of total Gas reserves of Pakistan. Sindh contributes 58.5% of total Petrol reserves of Pakistan. Sindh contributes 71% of total revenue of Pakistan. Sindh has 2 international standard ports of Pakistan.
YET
55% of population in Sindh lives below the poverty line. Sindh gets just 24.55% from the divisible pool. More than 30% people of Rural Sindh are unemployed. More than 68% of the girls in Sindh can not join schools. Sindh has worst roads, hospitals & schools in the entire South Asia.
WHY???
Via – Facebook
By: Ayaz Gul
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and Russia have held high-level discussions focusing on how to expand their political, economic and military relationship. But analysts believe Afghanistan is at the center of the intensified diplomacy as both countries are positioning themselves in anticipation of expected withdrawal of most U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan by 2014.
Pakistani military chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani traveled to Moscow this week while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Islamabad.
The high-level exchanges took place just days after President Vladimir Putin cancelled his much anticipated trip to Pakistan, which would have been the first visit by a Russian head of the state. He was supposed to be in the Pakistani capital this week to attend a summit involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Russia, which was also postponed. The cancellation is seen by many as a setback for efforts to improve ties.
Continue reading Pakistan, Russia Intensify Contacts to Improve Ties
Major gas field discovered in Pakistan
ROME: Italian energy major ENI said on Wednesday it had discovered a major reserve of between 300 billion and 400 billion cubic feet of gas some 350 kilometres north of Karachi in Pakistan.
The discovery was made in the Khirthar Fold Belt region close to the ENI-operated Bhit gas processing facility, the company said in a statement.
ENI said it “confirms the presence of significant exploration potential that can be exploited through the application of new geological models.”
The company said it had begun talks with Pakistani authorities on creating a joint venture, adding that it would “help to reduce the national gas deficit.”
ENI has been in Pakistan since 2000 and is the country’s largest producer, with average production of 54,800 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2011.
Pakistan has had an endemic energy crisis for years, characterised by frequent blackouts, which has crippled the economy.
The crisis is blamed on chronic mismanagement and corruption.
Courtesy: DAWN.COM
http://dawn.com/2012/09/19/major-gas-field-discovered-in-pakistan/
– – – – – – – – – –
Govt to support Water Fuel Kit Project: Cabinet body
By: PPI
ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the Cabinet on Thursday reiterated the government’s commitment to support the Water Fuel Kit Project to tackle energy crisis in country.
The committee strongly encouraged the Water Fuel Kit Project, as the project designer presented a tremendous demonstration of car driving on the Water Fueling system.
The committee members highly appreciated the idea of Engineer Waqar Ahmad of introducing the Water Fueling system for automobiles in the country.
Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah, talking to media persons after having practical demonstration by Engineer Waqar, said that the government would provide full support to the Ministry of Science and Technology in the development of the system.
He asked the ministry and the Pakistan Engineering Council to float the feasibility of the project as soon as possible.
It is pertinent to mention that automobiles can be driven on Water Fueling system instead of consuming petrol or CNG fuels. Sukkur-based Engr Waqar had presented the idea before the Federal Religious Minister, who appreciated it and latter took it to the Cabinet, which made the sub-committee.
In today’s demonstration, the Federal Minister himself drove the car running on the water fuel.
Replying to a question, the minister maintained that the engineer would be provided with full security and the idea would also be kept secured.
The minister said that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh had also highly valued the project.
“We own this project, we will provide full support and we are committed to successfully complete the project” said the minister.
Continue reading A Sindhi Engineer succeeded to run the CAR by water instead of Petrol/Diesel.
AS the police-led operation against ‘gangsters’ in Lyari entered its sixth day on Wednesday, the humanitarian plight of this forsaken Karachi neighbourhood’s residents has become a matter of serious concern. People have been without food, water, power and gas for the past several days while stray gunfire poses a constant threat. Many of those who could do so have already fled Lyari. The city has witnessed protests against the operation, with demonstrators clashing with the law-enforcers. Protesters claim the action is partial, targeting a particular ethnic group. And while the Sindh government announced it had started relief work for the hapless people on Tuesday, it appears no plan was chalked out to protect residents before the police went inside the area last week.
Pakistan Confirms China Pullout From Pipeline Project, Eyes Other Options
By RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan says the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has “no more interest” in funding a project to build a natural-gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan.
A Pakistani Finance Ministry spokesman said on March 14 that the Chinese institution had been negotiating with Pakistan’s Habib Bank over financing for the Pakistani section of the pipeline. He added that he did not know why the Chinese bank had pulled out of the deal. …
Read more » RFE/RL
The Baloch nation will not allow IPI gas pipeline to pass through Balochistan: Hyrbyair Marri
Excerpts;
….Mr Marri said “we would like to make it clear to all international companies that we consider Pakistan as an occupying state that is why until regaining their independence the Baloch will not accept any agreement made with Pakistan about the fate of Balochistan. Neither can the Baloch give any guarantee for the protection of anyone’s wealth in the occupied land of Balochistan that helps make Pakistan and Iran’s strategy stronger but weakens the Baloch liberation struggle.” However, after freedom the Baloch state, for the Baloch interest, will be willing to allow and guarantee all International Companies in a competitive environment to spend their wealth in Balochistan, he added.
Hyrbyair Marri said that Pakistan cannot hoist it’s flag in Balochistan and the so called national anthem of Pakistan is not played in schools, in these circumstances how Pakistan can guarantee the protection of the wealth of other countries. He has also categorically rejected Pakistan’s claim that Pakistani top officials had contacted the Baloch pro-freedom leaders to join the so called mainstream Pakistani politics. Mr Marri said “Our stance is crystal clear to the world and to the Baloch Nation that we have no historical, linguistic and cultural ties with this state [Pakistan]. We have not accepted this state since its coming into being, similarly the state by its violent actions have proved that Balochistan is an occupied territory.” ….
Read more » BALOCHWARNA
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China won’t help finance the natural gas pipeline to Pakistan, apparently because of U.S. sanctions on Iran.
By Paul Richter and Alex Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times
Reporting from Washington and Islamabad, Pakistan—
China’s largest bank has backed out of a deal to finance a proposed Iran-to-Pakistan gas pipeline that is opposed by the United States, a potential sign of the lengthening reach of U.S. economic sanctions on Iran.
Pakistani officials confirmed Wednesday that Industrial and Commercial Bank of China had withdrawn from plans to head a consortium that would finance the $1.6-billion Pakistani portion of the cross-border pipeline, apparently over concern that the bank could be excluded from the U.S. economy.
Continue reading Chinese bank pulls out of Pakistan-Iran pipeline project
SINDH – Karachi: Sindh’s Minister for Finance, Murad Ali Shah, informed the Provincial Assembly of Sindh on Monday that the federal government was tending to unilaterally reduce Sindh’s share in the Gas Development Surcharge (GDS) and had fixed a formula for GDS distribution without consulting the province.
“The Chief Minister of Sindh and the finance department have written, cumulatively, around 20-25 letters to the federal government asking for transparency in the GDS matter,” he said, and added that in the year 2008-09, the federal government had reduced Sindh’s share in the GDS to Rs11, 328 million. “The federal government has not consulted the Sindh government while finalizing estimates for the GDS,” said the finance minister. He observed that Sindh had only started getting GDS since 1991. …
Read more » The News
Balochistan-style attacks on state interests in Sindh
Seven blasts on railway tracks, two on gas pipelines
Over a dozen bombs blew up railway tracks at seven points along major railway line in Sindh on Saturday. Also coupled were two attacks on gas pipe lines supplying natural gas to Karachi and other parts of the province.
The attacks launched with home-made bombs disrupted railway traffic on main line for hours and the trains destined to Karachi and parts of Punjab were stopped on various stations between Ghotki and Karachi. ….
Read more » The Point » » The Voice of Sindh & Balochistan
Via → facebook
– Pakistan: 11 Soldiers Killed In Battle With Baluch Militants
By RFE/RL
QUETTA, Pakistan — Pakistani officials say militants in the southwestern Baluchistan Province have killed 11 soldiers in an attack.
A senior official in Pakistan’s military said two Frontier Corps posts near coal mines came under attack in the Margut area about 60 kilometers east of Quetta.
RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal’s correspondent in Quetta reports that an ethnic Baluch separatist group called the Baluch Liberation Army claimed responsibility.
That group is comprised of members of the Bugti and Marri clans in the area to the east of Quetta.
They have been fighting since 2004 for political autonomy and a greater share of profits from Baluchistan’s oil, gas, and mineral resources.
More than 30 members of Pakistan’s Frontier Corps have been killed in Baluchistan Province during the past three weeks in clashes with Baluch rebels.
Courtesy: Rferl
http://www.rferl.org/content/soldiers_killed_by_baluch_rebels_in_pakistan/24470002.html
By Omar Ali
Its always hazardous to comment on “proximate politics” and the threat of a coup has not yet disappeared in Pakistan, but it does seem to have receded a bit, even if the story is by no means over and the struggle continues. Still, the fact that it has not yet happened is a huge disappointment for some media persons (Kamran Khan comes to mind) who were all dressed up and ready for a coup a few days ago and now look visibly depressed (though still hoping that the paknationalist judiciary will deliver what the paknationalist army did not) and for sections of the middle class. And behind these disappointees there is another section of even more seriously heart-broken people: the young scions of Pakistan’s inbred military-bureaucratic elite, who were already imagining themselves taking over PIA or Pakistan Railways to “reform” the institution and fix the mess created by “corrupt politicians”. I feel their pain..
For background, a quick review; pressure for a coup in Pakistan comes from several sources, including:
Syria: Clashes at mass Damascus protest
Syrian security forces have used tear gas and batons to disperse tens of thousands of protesters in the capital, Damascus, witnesses said.
The protesters called for reforms, while some demanded the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.
The protests, in Damascus and other cities, are believed to be the largest in a month of unrest in which about 200 people have been reported killed. …
Read more : BBC
HEC’s devolution to provinces opposed
by Khalid Hashmani, McLean
In my opinion, the recent decision by the Pakistani Government to devolve HEC into provincial HECs is overdue and must be carried out. As a matter of fact, I recommend to Dr. Javaid Laghari to not only support this decision but also help to ensure that it is implemented fully and that he should assume the role of Sindh HEC and make it one the best educational institutions in Pakistan and in the world as he did with ZABIST.
I do not know of any federal-level powerful higher education authorities in any federal state in the world as we have in Pakistan. Using the name of Islam and Pakistan, the establishment of Pakistan has been imposing unnecessary and inefficient centralization on the provinces/ States/ Republics. The tool of “centralization” has been used to discriminate and exploit smaller provinces and usurp resources of Sindh and Balochistan for the benefit of other provinces. Neither Canada has a federal HEC nor USA and other democratic and federal countries have created such institutions. In other countries where a federal-level commissions exist, their role is very limited and constrained to advise on standards.
The reason that Sindh’s Education Ministry is inefficient has no relevance whether or not Pakistan’s HEC should be devolved. The federal Education Ministry and HEC both have history of discrimination against Sindhis and denying due share in educational opportunities in Pakistan. The same rational of inefficiency is given for centralized control of Sindh’s resource industries such as coal, oil, gas, and ports.
The fact that few Vice Chancellors and educationalists from Sindh do not support devolution of HEC is the same as some pro one-unit establishment organs gave when the people of Sindh, Balochistan, and Pakhtunkhwa demanded dissolution of one unit. Such pronouncement did not succeed then and they will not stop devolution of HEC and other federal agencies and departments returning them into their provincial jurisdictions.
As a highly super centralized state, Pakistan is increasingly failing and is now considered one of worse countries on most human development factors. It is time that it’s setup is reorganized on the basis of the 1940 Resolutions, which is the fundamental principle for various provinces/ States/ Republics to join Pakistan.
Courtesy: Sindhi e-lists/ e-groups, March 27, 2011.
Oman police fire tear gas at protesters: witnesses, Agence France Presse
Omani security forces fired tear gas on Sunday at protesters who tried to storm a police station in Sohar, northwest of the capital Muscat, witnesses said.
The protesters attempted to attack a police station near Earth Roundabout, where some 250 demonstrators were holding a sit-in, before security forces forced them back with tear gas, the witnesses told AFP.
There were casualties among the protesters, who were mostly unemployed and were demanding jobs, better salaries and measures to curb corruption, the witnesses said. …
Read more : YahooNews
by: Wichaar desk
MANAMA, Bahrain – Troops and tanks locked down the capital of this tiny Gulf kingdom after riot police swinging clubs and firing tear gas smashed into demonstrators, many of them sleeping, in a pre-dawn assault Thursday that uprooted their protest camp demanding political change. Medical officials said four people were killed.
Hours after the attack on Manama’s main Pearl Square, the military announced a ban on gatherings, saying on state TV that it had “key parts” of the capital under its control. …
Read more : Wichaar
SA passes six resolutions
* Representation of all provinces in WAPDA’s Board of Directors stressed
By Masroor Afzal Pasha
KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly (SA) passed a unanimous resolution on Wednesday for the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA)’s rotational chairmanship in all provinces with representation of every province in WAPDA’s board of directors (BoD). …
Read more : Daily Times
If you have nasal congestion, sinusitis, bloating, diarrhea, gas and constipation then you may have Candida (bad bacteria) overgrowth. It occurs in colon/ bowels. It cases the immune suppression and then may causes so many other fatigues. Avoid consuming sugar and sugar products and sweets to slow down the overgrowth of Candida/Yeast. You can eat fruits but should not consume sugar and all source of sugar. Whole wheat bread and whole fruits and washed raw vegetables are good to eat. If it is hard for you leave the habit of sugar then use sweetener as a substitute. Our diets include so many added sugar that makes the diet disaster. Sugar slow down the immune system help Candida yeast to overgrowth. Consume plain yogurt every day especially in the morning before breakfast after taking plain yogurt drink whole glass of clean crystal water. Start your breakfast 45 minutes after having yogurt for 6 months it will help you control your symptoms of bloating, diarrhea and gas problem.
Conflicting News about Thar Coal in Business Recorder – Thar Coal Politics
by: Khalid Hashmani, McLean, Virginia, USA
The politics surrounding the Thar Coal continues to confound Sindhis and other Pakistanis. Only two days ago (May 21), the newspaper Business Recorder, which is published from Karachi, said that the World Bank had withdrawn support for the Thar Coal project. Today, comes another story in the same newspaper saying that the World Bank will support the Thar Coal project. It seems that there is some manipulation going on once again in an attempt to gain control for the central government over this important asset of Sindh.
It must be noted that other than oil and gas, where Pakistani constitution requies shared control, Coal is exclusively under provincial jurisdiction.
Translation by Khalid Hashmani, McLean, Virginia
Excerpts;
Once again, Ishak Soomro shares his research, concerns and warnings on another important natural resource of Sindh that remain largely unknown to the common people of Sindh. His bold article on the off-shore resources of Sindh was printed in Sindhi Daily Ibrat Feb 10, 2010.
According to the article, Pakistan Government has allotted 18 exploration licenses to five (5) multi-national oil companies. The awardees include British Petroleum (BP) which has a dubious record of spending its civil society commitments to please bureaucrats and local chieftains instead of improving conditions of local communities. Other companies include Italy-based ENI, Canadian company called Niko, and Pakistani companies OGDCL and PPL. Mostof these companies already operate on-shore oil and gas fields in Sindh and have checkered records on meeting the commitments on their already profitable on-land oil and gas producing fields. It must be noted that exploring off-shore fields poses greater risks to coastal communities as these activities often destroy livelihood of local fishing families.
Continue reading Sindh’s rich Off-shore Oil and Gas Resources
KARACHI, SINDH: The Sindh Assembly on Oct 13, 2009 unanimously adopted a private resolution demanding the Federal Government to give ownership rights to the Sindh on oil and gas produced in the province.
– Khalid Hashmani, McLean, Virginia
A news item under title “Only Sindhis have rights over Thar Coal” in Sindhi interestingly is published in web magazine “WICHAAR”. This magazine, although focused on the promotion of Punjabi and culture, has been remarkable in promoting Sindhi language and bringing Sindhi and Punjabi communities closer to each other. THe news item describes a recent demonstration in Hyderabad Sindh in which demonstrations strongly criticized federal government’s action to take over the management of huge coal deposits in Thar area of Sindh. The demonstrations also demanded that ownership of all natural resources found in Sindh including oil, gas, and coal belong to the people of Sindh.
The full article can be accessed at following link:
http://www.wichaar.com/news/199/ARTICLE/7785/2008-07-28.html
While due to international oil prices, oil-producing countries are flourishing but Sindh has not benefit …
News : With a successful discovery of a new exploratory well in District Hyderabad, Sindh, the average daily production of Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) including the share from the joint ventures has touched 45,235 barrels of crude oil per day.The Company has succeeded to discover an exploratory well near Lashari lease, Molan area in District Hyderabad. Initially the production of the well will be 1,150 barrel per day, the specification of this oil is 45 degree API,.. OGDC is also producing 963 million cubic feet of natural gas and 382 metric tons of LPG per day… Aaj News
State-owned Oil and Gas Development Co Ltd (OGDCL), the country’s biggest listed firm, announced on Friday a small oil discovery in southern Sindh province, raising its oil output by 1,150 barrels per day (bpd)… Last week, Pakistan finalised plans to issue an exchangeable bond with an option for OGDCL shares, to be jointly managed by ABN AMRO, Barclays and JP Morgan…
April 21, 2008
Indus Asia Online Journal (Click here to go to home page)