Lahore (Web Desk): ‘Shell Pakistan’ denies responsibility for Bahawalpur incident however ready to pay penalty, sources said.
It should be mentioned that Shell Pakistan is a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, which is headquartered in the Netherlands.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) held Shell Pakistan responsible for the accident.
After this disastrous oil tanker explosion near Bahawalpur, ‘Shell Pakistan’ was fined Rs. 257 million by the government to compensate victims of the accident.
OGRA ordered Shell Pakistan to pay Rs. 10 million fine in addition to Rs. 1 million to the families of every single person who died. About Rs. 500,000 per person was also to be paid to the injured.
The company agreed to pay the fine. However they did not accept any liability for the incident. Shell Pakistan said that it would comply with OGRA’s directive adding that, “However, we do so while reserving the right to contest the fine.”
Shell paid the fine as it “clearly recognize(s) that this was a tragedy that has deeply affected the community”.
By doing so Shell Pakistan is going to set an interesting precedent in the country. The company is giving a gesture to fulfill its social responsibilities in light of such incidents.