Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry informed the Senate that Pakistan Petroleum Limited is weighing a shift of its headquarters from Karachi to Islamabad to lower expenses and boost efficiency. He stated that the plan stemmed from operational necessities instead of regional or provincial motives.
Building condition behind relocation proposal
Answering a Calling Attention Notice from Senators Syed Waqar Mehdi and Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Chaudhry explained that technical, administrative, and operational factors drove the plan. The board of the company has frequently highlighted the need to vacate the present structure due to its state.
He contended that maintaining offices and administrative setups across two places would increase costs and produce an unnecessary financial strain on the public.
Most employees would not be affected
Chaudhry noted that the majority of staff members for PPL are deployed away from the main office. He provided the Senate with the following figures:
- Around 77 per cent of employees work at field locations and other offices and would not be affected by the proposed move.
- About 15 per cent of employees are based at headquarters.
Minister rejects provincial considerations
Chaudhry asked that the management and board of PPL be permitted to evaluate the situation based on operational demands. He dismissed claims that the planned relocation stemmed from regional or provincial factors.
He highlighted large assets held by PPL in Balochistan alongside work in Sindh, arguing that provincial factors should not dictate where the headquarters sits. He insisted the plan is technical and administrative, with zero intent to harm staff or any province's interests.
