MD PPL distributes relief goods in flood-hit areas

KARACHI, September 2, 2010: MD and CEO Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) Khalid Rahman and other senior officers of the company recently visited flood-affected areas to oversee the company’s relief efforts and distribute dry food packages among affectees. Rahman met with Federal Minister for Industries and Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani at Karampur Town and handed-over relief goods and tents for 600 families in the area.

Later, Rahman visited a free medical camp set up near PPL’s Kandhkot Gas Field and distributed dry food packages among patients. He also toured a similar facility at Haibat Bridge. PPL has so far set up 14 such camps, manned by PPL doctors, paramedic staff and volunteers, across Kandhkot District to provide emergency healthcare for local communities. To date, over 6,000 patients have been treated at the camps. The company has also installed hand-pumps supplying potable water in various areas in Kandhkot.

Rahman earlier visited the district on August 25 to inspect ongoing relief operations carried out by the company.

In continuation of the company’s relief efforts in Balochistan, Chairman PPL Board Hidatyatullah Pirzada distributed relief goods among 500 flood-affected families at Quetta Bypass. Senator Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani, who was present on the occasion, thanked PPL for its relief efforts in the province.

PPL’s Board approved an amount of Rs. 100 million for flood relief on August 16 that will be spent in two phases. In the first phase, the company has donated Rs. 20 million to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund 2010 (PMRF) and given an additional Rs. 30 million in the form of relief goods.

PPL staff and workers have also contributed one day’s salary, amounting to Rs. 6.3 million, to the PMRF.

To date, the company has dispatched 27 consignments, comprising over 10,000 dry food packages and about 300 tents, to Quetta, Kandhkot, Sibi, Barkhan, Sui, Chachar, Shahdadkot and Karampur. Additional consignments for Jaffarabad, Shahdadkot and Mazarani are ready and will be sent as soon as road access to the areas is possible. Relief goods have been sent in response to needs identification carried out by the company or highlighted by local authorities and notables.

The company has earmarked the remaining Rs. 50 million for rehabilitation work and is in the process of putting together an effective and sustainable programme that will be initiated in the second phase of its flood relief efforts.