In a major demonstration, hundreds of farmers, landowners, and residents from over 40 villages staged a sit-in at the main gate of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) field office in Jhangara Bajara town, Johi taluka. The protest, which lasted over eight hours, was sparked by allegations of severe damage caused by OGDCL’s oil and gas survey activities.
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The affected villages, including Dad Mohammad Rind, Sajan Khan Rind, Ibrahim Khan Rind, Daood Khan Rind, Raheem Bakhsh Rind, and Brahmani, claimed the company’s operations had destroyed critical resources such as wheat crops, trees, fertile land, and water reserves.
Protest leaders Sajan Khan Rind, Mian Bakhsh Rind, and Mohammad Ibrahim Rind accused OGDCL of ignoring their demands for compensation and failing to prioritize local employment. “The company has not only ruined our livelihoods but also refused to hire locals even for daily wage jobs, preferring outsiders instead,” said one of the protest leaders.
The protesters further alleged that they had faced threats of dire consequences after lodging complaints with the company. “Instead of addressing our grievances, the administration has resorted to intimidation tactics,” they claimed.
The villagers are demanding immediate compensation for the losses incurred and the employment of local residents in the company’s operations. They have called on authorities to intervene and hold OGDCL accountable for its actions.
This protest is the latest in a series of disputes between local communities and public-sector organizations accused of prioritizing profits over environmental and social responsibility.
