ISLAMABAD: The operations of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) at the Sui gas field are once again under threat as the employees’ union has disrupted activities, demanding recruitment under the abolished son quota scheme. Despite a Supreme Court ruling that declared the practice unconstitutional, the union is pressuring the management to comply with their demands.
According to sources, local PPL management staff have been detained and held hostage in their offices by the CBA union and non-management technical employees. Additionally, they have blocked field staff from boarding chartered flights, further escalating the situation.
This is not the first time unrest has disrupted operations at Sui. In November 2024, gas transportation to the national grid was at risk for three weeks due to a union protest following the termination of an employee caught stealing a truckload of scrap.
A PPL spokesperson confirmed the ongoing strike, warning that any disruption in gas supply would have serious consequences for the country’s industrial sector. “Sui is a national key point, and halting its operations could bring industrial activities to a standstill,” the spokesperson emphasized.
The spokesperson also highlighted that prior to the Supreme Court’s September 2024 verdict, PPL regularly inducted employees under the son quota. However, the Apex Court has now prohibited preferential hiring, citing constitutional violations against merit-based employment. The ruling explicitly states that public sector jobs must be awarded based on competence rather than familial ties, as taxpayers’ money funds these salaries.
Adding to the concern, the Petroleum Division fears the unrest at Sui could further destabilize the region, especially after the recent Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) attack on the Jaffer Express in Bolan.
Meanwhile, the Interior Division has already issued a notification on February 14, 2025, declaring all PPL employees essential workers under the law. The directive bans strikes for six months starting January 23, 2025, warning that disruptions in gas supply will lead to strict action against violators.
A senior Petroleum Division official noted that the son quota was initially introduced in the 1980s, when Sui was producing peak volumes of gas. Now, with the reservoir depleting rapidly—expected to last only another 10 years—the economic viability of the field has declined significantly. “The only exception for employment under this scheme is if an employee loses their life in a terrorist attack,” the official clarified.
On the union’s stance, Employees’ Union Secretary General Ejaz Ahmad acknowledged raising concerns with the management. However, when questioned about pressuring PPL to reinstate the son quota, he sidestepped the issue, merely stating that a head office team would soon visit Sui to discuss matters.
As tensions mount, all eyes are now on PPL’s board of directors, who are set to deliberate on the matter, while the government scrambles to prevent another disruption to the country’s fragile energy sector.
