A seminar organized by ActionAid:
 

ActionAid Pakistan Karachi Office in collaboration with other civil society organization organized a seminar on "Affectees of Corporate Abuse and State Policies in Sindh ". The collaborating organizations include Layari Development Organization, Management and Governance Network Sindh Sukkur and District NGOs' Coordination Council Khairpur Mirs'.

More than 200 participants including affectees of corporate abuse by different Multinational and National Companies and Industries attended the seminar. Social and political activists, representatives of NGOs' and media professionals were also among the participants.

It was agreed upon at the seminar to mark 25th September as protest day under the title "Peoples' Ownership of the Resources" in District Head Quarters of Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur Mirs', Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Qambar-Shahdadkot. A comprehensive report on corporate abuse in the respective district will be presented to District Coordination Officer (head of district administration) demanding immediate action in favor of affectees. The participants identified district focal points for coordination and mobilization for maximum number of affectees to join the protest.

Affectees of various companies such as Mari Gas Company ,Osterr Mineralol Verwaltung (OMV) ,Pakistan petroleum Limited (PPL) Qambar-Shahdadkot,Oil and Gas development Corporation Limited (OGDCL),Mines and mineral workers Village Adham Sultan District Khairpur Mirs' ,Stone crushing workers from Sukkur and Khairpur Mirs ,PEL Gas company Shikarpur , S.I.T.E Area Sukkur ,Fauji Fertilizer, Pak saudi Fertilizer Ghotki and BHP Billiton Johi participated in the seminar.

The participants expressed and identified following major issues in their presentations and deliberations;

• Environmental issues.
• Refusal to employment opportunities for local people.
• Improper and refusal in many cases regarding compensation of land to landowners.
• Denial and fraud regarding compliance of legal obligation to invest for developing skilled labor in the area.
• Worst impact on infrastructure of heavy traffic movement in the area.
• Denial and embezzlement regarding legal obligation to invest on community development
• Non-compliance of labor laws and social securities.
• Victimization of common people and activists for raising voice against wrong doings and misdeeds of corporations.
   

People from affected areas will gather in front of District Government offices and present a Memorandum to District Coordination Officer on 25th September. The memorandum will include;

• ver view of corporate activities in the district
  List of corporations, companies, mines, stone crushing companies and other industries in the district
• Environmental Impact; did company share the Environmental Impact Assessment Report? What measures the company has taken to mitigate the damages to environment?
• The facts about employment opportunities to local people; Do company invest on developing skilled labor from the locality as required by the law.
• Non-compliance on social security and other labor laws
• Response to local development and community problems as required by the law.
• Issues of payments against land compensation.
• The details of peoples' engagements and other efforts for identification and resolution of such issues in past and response from the companies.
• Details of victimization and highhandedness of companies against common people and affectees.
   

Contact: adam.malik@actionaid.org ; azhar.lashary@actionaid.org