The Bugti tribe of Dera Bugti endures deep injustice as decades of gas extraction from their lands bring corporate profits but no prosperity—leaving them marginalized in a cycle of modern-day exploitation.
The initial agreements between gas companies and local representatives included promises of employment opportunities for the Bugti people. These commitments were formalized through land lease agreements that recognized the traditional rights of the tribal leadership.
In recent years, gas companies have increasingly adopted a contractor system for labour engagement, a practice that systematically denies workers their rightful benefits and creates conditions of precarious employment. Now more than 2000 labourers have been sent to their homes after working for years for these companies. This approach mirrors global trends in the oil and gas industry where contract workers, particularly in semi-skilled positions, face job insecurity and reduced benefits compared to direct employees.
This exploitation is particularly egregious given that the Bugti people are not merely workers but also the traditional custodians of the land from which the resources are extracted
In Uch gas field, 50 out of 200 labourers were sent home without any notice last week, and local labourers were even from protesting in front of the company.
The exploitation of the Bugti people is further entrenched through structural barriers to justice. The absence of labour courts at the district level forces workers to travel to the provincial capital to seek remediation for employment grievances, imposing significant financial burdens that effectively deny access to justice.
This exploitation is particularly egregious given that the Bugti people are not merely workers but also the traditional custodians of the land from which the resources are extracted. Their double exploitation—of both labour and natural resources—represents a compounded injustice that demands redress.
Gas companies know if they give jobs to the local people then they would be answerable to permanently employ them within ninety days on the basis of the initial agreement.
This economic marginalization has had serious consequences, contributing to insurgency and violence in the region since 2005. The militarization of the area, with army cantonments established at Sui and troops deployed around gas fields with an extensive security cordon, has further alienated the local population.
Recent legal victories, including favourable rulings from the Islamabad High Court, have not translated into meaningful change due to systematic non-implementation by gas companies. Despite PPL's February 2025 claim of having generated employment for approximately 1,500 individuals in Sui, with nearly 1,200 reportedly from the local population, the reality on the ground continues to reflect systematic exclusion and exploitation.
Addressing the historical and ongoing injustices faced by the Bugti tribe requires comprehensive policy interventions at multiple levels:
- Establishment of labour courts at the district level to ensure accessible justice for workers facing exploitation and rights violations
- Abolition of the exploitative contractor system in favour of direct employment with full benefits and security
- Implementation of existing court directives regarding employment of local residents in gas companies
- Restoration of rights for retired employees and fulfilment of promises regarding employment of family members
- Recognition of resource rights through equitable sharing of benefits from natural gas extraction with local communities
- Development of transparent governance mechanisms for resource management with genuine local participation
- Investment in education and skills development to enable meaningful participation of Bugti people in the gas industry beyond menial positions