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ISLAMABAD: In the rugged, remote landscapes of Balochistan, a transformation is underway. What began as a strategic national energy project has blossomed into a story of community uplift and renewed hope, said an official release of the OGDCL.
In a direct response to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s call for fast-track development in the Jhal Magsi district, the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has not only completed a critical energy project but has also launched an ambitious series of initiatives designed to change lives.
The challenge was immense. With a high-priority mandate to boost the nation’s energy supply, OGDCL was tasked with developing the Jhal Magsi Field on an accelerated timeline. With the help of key government incentives—a policy shift from the 1997 Petroleum Policy to the Marginal Field Gas Pricing Policy—the project, a joint venture with Pakistan Oilfields Limited and Government Holdings Private Limited, began in earnest in February 2024. Despite the technical and territorial hurdles, a new infrastructure rapidly took shape, including an Amine Unit, Dehydration Unit, and power generation facilities.
The result is a major win for national energy security. The Jhal Magsi Development Project is now producing around 14 million standard cubic feet of pipeline-quality gas and 45 barrels of condensate daily. A newly built 98-kilometer pipeline, constructed by Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL), now links the field directly to the national network, ensuring a steady flow of resources.
But the true story of Jhal Magsi goes beyond pipelines and production numbers. Recognizing that the benefits of national resource development must be felt by the local community, OGDCL has committed to a sweeping set of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The company is actively building an OGDCL Grammar School and, in collaboration with Indus Hospital, a Mother & Child Health Care Facility, promising better futures for the district’s youth and families.
Clean water, a basic necessity, has become a reality with the installation of two RO plants and an underground water tank. For residents, OGDCL’s support has extended to the construction of 84 climate-resilient houses and the provision of ration bags for 800 families. The company has also gifted two ambulances and organized free eye camps, directly addressing critical healthcare needs in the area.
Crucially, the projects are investing in people. Fully funded, four-year scholarships have been awarded to local students at Sukkur IBA, opening doors to higher education. In a nod to vocational training, 55 local youths have been enrolled in technical courses through NAVTTC, with many already gaining skills that will empower their careers. Even local culture and sports are being supported through OGDCL’s sponsorship of the Jhal Magsi Desert Rally.
The successful commissioning of the Jhal Magsi Development Project serves as a powerful testament to the synergy between national development and community progress, proving that when companies invest in the people who live near their operations, they create a legacy far more valuable than a pipeline.
