Senate Panel blocks PPL’s proposed exit from Karachi
KARACHI (TKP Report): The Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum has unanimously opposed the proposed relocation of Pakistan Petroleum Limited’s (PPL) headquarters from Karachi to Islamabad, advising the state-owned energy company to retain its head office in the country’s commercial capital.
The committee raised the issue during a meeting at Pakistan State Oil (PSO) headquarters on Thursday, chaired by Senator Umer Farooq, where PPL’s proposed relocation and its financial implications came under discussion.
Committee members unanimously recommended that PPL continue operating its headquarters from Karachi. The chairman directed the company to submit a detailed justification for the proposed move, supported by a financial cost-benefit analysis.
The committee’s intervention puts the proposed relocation under parliamentary scrutiny, with PPL now required to explain the financial and administrative rationale behind shifting its headquarters to Islamabad.
The senators also reviewed PPL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure and development initiatives across the country.
Briefing the committee, PPL officials disclosed that the company had allocated Rs8.35 billion from its annual pre-tax profit for CSR activities, covering education, healthcare and skills development.
While appreciating PPL’s substantial contribution to development initiatives, particularly in Balochistan, the committee called for greater attention to the company’s voluntary CSR activities in Sindh.
The operational challenges faced by PPL in implementing its CSR programmes were also discussed.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Energy, PSO, PARCO, PPL and the Sindh government’s Energy Department.
The committee concluded by emphasising transparency, institutional accountability and stronger governance across the petroleum sector.
The proposed headquarters relocation is now expected to face further scrutiny as the parliamentary panel awaits PPL’s financial cost-benefit assessment.