CBA union keeping PPL staff from work: Sui field official

ISLAMABAD: The operation of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) at the Sui field is again under threat as the employees union has prevented the local management from continuing activities, stressing the state-owned E&P company to recruit their beloved ones under ‘son quota’ scheme despite the fact that Supreme Court has abolished the scheme.

“The staff of the local management of PPL at the Sui field has been detained and made hostage in their offices in Ramazan by the CBA union and local (non-management profession technicians) employees who also stopped the field staff from boarding the chartered flight. The CBA office bearers and local N-MPT staff are pressurising to recruit people from their family under the ‘son quota’ scheme,” a senior official from Sui field told The News.

When contacted, a spokesman of Pakistan Petroleum Limited confirmed: “The situation at Sui field, Baluchistan is again tense because of the strike by the CBA union. If the gas supply to the national grid is disrupted then the country would face a severe losses in industrial activities. In the past, the company used to induct the employees under son quota almost every year, but after the Supreme Court verdict in September 2024, the situation has changed. However, the issue will be taken up in the meeting of the PPL Board of Directors.” The spokesman further said that the PPL cannot afford to violate the apex court’s verdict saying if it resorts to recruitment under the old scheme, the management would face the music. Furthermore, the Sui field is now a depleting reservoir and it will continue to produce gas for 10 years only. The economics of the field have also been scaled down.”

Interestingly, Interior Division on February 14, 2025 had notified all employees of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) as essential for the uninterrupted supply of oil and gas by preventing any strike or untoward situation. The notification applies for six months from January 23, 2025. Under the notification, employees cannot stage any strike at gas fields, otherwise they will be treated accordingly.

Secretary General of Employees’ Union Ejaz Ajmad, when contacted, admitted the Union raised some issues, and the team from head office has promised to come to the site to listen to them. When asked as to why the union is stressing PPL management to accommodate employees under son quota scheme, he skipped the question, and said that a team from the main office would visit the site soon and they will discuss with it all issues. He said he was in marriage ceremony and unable to understand what is being asked.