ATTOCK, Dec 16: A high level meeting here on Tuesday decided to set up a reconciliation committee to resolve the dispute over compensation between a Chinese company and land owners that has created law and order situation in Pindigheb tehsil and closure of seismic survey, sources privy to the meeting told Dawn.

DCO Saqib Zafar, Naib Nazim Malik Sameen Khan, SP Investigation Raja Hasan Akhtar and Hamid Mehmood of Pakistan Oil Limited (POL) besides MPA Malik Khurram Ali Khan, revenue officials, attended the meeting, held at the office of the District Coordination Officer (DCO).

A four-member team from the Chinese company, LPEB-Fecto, headed by its deputy chief Yu Fei, attended the meeting.

The meeting discussed the whole situation in detail and established a committee that will assess the point of views of both the parties and come up with a solution acceptable to the two sides.

“The committee will take care of the interests of the land owners as well the company and resolve the matter amicably to restore normalcy to the area,” hoped District Naib Nazim Malik Sameen Khan while talking to Dawn after the meeting.

PPP’s member of Punjab Assembly (MPA) from Pindigheb Malik Khurram Ali Khan and PML-N leader Malik Suhail Khan also assured their full cooperation to the committee, he said.

In response to a question, Mr Khan admitted that some vested interests and local political figures were involved in aggravating the situation.

Talking to this reporter the Chinese company Deputy Chief Yu Fei said that the land owners had received the compensation of their lands and are demanding more.

“We have become fed up of this blackmailing by the land owners. We also do not want to wind up the $5 million project, but threats and warnings compelled us to suspend work as we cannot work in this circumstances”, Mr Fei said.

“However, the timely intervention by the Naib Nazim Sameen Khan has given us a hope of positive outcome and after today’s meeting the committee will come up with a concrete solution,” he said.

He appreciated the Naib Nazim and the district government’s help for resolving the dispute that led to protests and suspension of survey work by the Chinese company for the last 20 days.

He said that the company -- a joint venture of Pakistani company Fecto and Chinese Liaohe Petroleum Exploration Bureau (LPEB) -- had started seismic survey, considered to the largest seismic venture in Pindigheb tehsil in June.

The Chinese company has also been engaged with others international oil and gas exploring companies in Attock and other areas of the country.

The issue cropped up 20 days ago when the land owners demanded more compensation from the Chinese company and asked them to stop work, saying that they will not allow the survey until the acceptance of their demand.

Exchange of hot words and scuffles between the villagers and the company management created a law and order situation at the field area of Pindigheb tehsil, the sources said.

The Chinese people reported the situation to the local administration, which could not take any action due to the involvement of some local political elements, they said.

Consequently, the Chinese company decided to windup the project but Naib Nazim Malik Sameen Khan, who also belongs to Pindigheb tehsil, intervened and assured the company management of resolving the issue.

Meanwhile, Mr Sameen brought the matter to the notice of district administration and suggested to hold a meeting of all stakeholders.

“Absolutely suspension of work is not in the interest of our people as about 840 employees of Pindigheb tehsil are working with the company besides hiring a number of vehicles, the Naib Nazim said.

It will not only affect the oil exploring activities in the district but could also hurt the interests of both the all-weather friendly ties of the two countries, he commented.