DADU, Oct 13: Office-bearers of various NGOs and social workers have urged two multinational exploration companies to provide jobs and other facilities to the local people, failing which, a campaign would be launched against them.

They were speaking at a seminar held on Saturday titled “Multinational Companies: Our Resources and Our Problems”, organized by the Bhitshah Declaration Coordination Council in Johi.

The speakers criticized the multinational companies, BHP and ENI, for non-provision of health facilities and jobs to the people of Sehwan and Johi.

The executive director, South Asia Partnership of Pakistan, Mohammad Tahseen, accused the multinationals of depriving 75 per cent of the people of their legal rights even though the companies had been doing business for 32 years.

He exhorted the local people to raise their voice against the companies for their rights.

He said the advertisement budget of the companies was more than the budget of the interior ministry, moreover, the multinationals were aiding the Pakistan government to run atomic reactors but were refraining from providing funds for acquiring technology.

BDCC chief coordinator Arshad Khaskheli demanded jobs and training for the local inhabitants so that they could utilize their resources for the country’s development.

Asur Welfare Organization president Wahid Bakhsh Surhio pointed out that skilled and unskilled labour had been appointed in the BHP from Punjab.

The president, Public Welfare Society, Sahiwal, Jafar Bhatti, accused the companies of paying millions of rupees to the local administration and influential landlords as extortion money.

He also urged the provincial government to ask the companies to close their camps in Sindh if they had no plans of providing jobs to the locals.

The president, Social Youth Council of Patriots, Muzaffargarh, Dr Mukhtiar Ahmed Shaikh, offered that Punjab-based NGOs would fully support any movement launched by the NGOs of Sindh against the exploration companies.

The president, National Welfare Society, Gujranwala, Malik Mohammad Jamil, said the multinationals were awarding contracts to foreigners, adding that these companies were also indulging in untruthful statements abroad concerning social programmes and provision of health and other facilities to local people.

The president, Social Welfare Society, Khoshab Raja Amir Hyder, the president, PPP Johi Taluka, Bashir Ahmed Thaheem, and other social workers and local leaders also spoke at the seminar.

DEMO: A large number of growers of union council Yar Mohammad Kalhoro held a demonstration outside the local press club on Saturday to protest against artificial shortage of irrigation water in the Phakka waterway. They were led by the Nazim, union council Yar Mohammad Kalhoro, Syed Imam Ali Shah.

Speaking to the protesters, Syed Imam Ali Shah alleged that the irrigation officials were selling the water to influential landlords.

He said the water shortage had badly affected the agricultural sector.

The Nazim threatened to block the Sehwan-Dadu Indus Highway on Oct 16 if due share of water was not released in the Phakka waterway.

ARRESTED: Two persons were arrested by Bhan Saeedabad and Sehwan Sharif police during raids on two different places on Saturday.

Bhan Saeedabad police raided Talti-Bhan Saeedabad link road and arrested Mohammad Hanif Panhwar. A pistol and 12 bullets were recovered from his possession.

Sehwan police raided New Bakhsh Sand and arrested Khuda Bakhsh. A pistol and 15 bullets were recovered from him.

The police have registered cases against the accused.