A letter in Dawn of 17/5/06 on the subject.
Oil firms’ threat
THIS is regarding a news report on the front page (Dawn, May 15) concerning oil companies that have threatened to pull out of the country if NAB is allowed to recover Rs4.5 billion from them. I am of the opinion that this is a mockery of our laws and the anti-corruption drivel that our leaders seem to spout.
Who are the oil companies to hold our economy hostage? I understand that they provide a boost to the GDP and employ locals but that gives them no reason or right to break or bend our laws to suit their own needs. If NAB thinks that they are accountable for Rs4.5 billion, then they should pay that amount to the rightful owners.
It is ridiculous that they elude the law even after making a threat like this. When oil companies operate in Pakistan, they are liable to our laws and deserve to be punished if they’ve done something wrong. If the government gives in to their demands and shelves the investigation like they did with the sugar pricing investigation, it will set an extremely bad precedent that others will undoubtedly follow.
It is time the government started practising what it preached. Their demand for maintaining their previous profit margins is a fair one and negotiations should be entered into if it is feasible. However, the threat is absolutely out of order and should be dealt with in the strictest manner possible. If necessary it should call their bluff and ask them to hand over current oil operations to the PSO and pack up. At least then the government can conduct investigations without having it challenged by corporations.
ALI MUJAHID
Lahore