A sorry tale of Parco CEO Appointment

Aftab Ahmed

Islamabad: It may be shocking disclosure that a high-powered Interview committed headed by Minister for Energy Omer Ayub had picked up a candidate and placed at the top of merit order for appointment of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pak Arab Refinery Limited (Parco) who stood disqualified. Even did not meet the advertised educational criteria.

The committee also shortlisted three such candidates for appointing CEO Parco, who was also disqualified by a head hunter. Still, the high-powered interview committee picked these three candidates.

Sources told Newztodays.com that high powered interview committed headed by Omer Ayub and comprising of special assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar, secretary petroleum Asad Hayaud Din and additional secretary petroleum Ayub Chaudhry placed Mr. Ahsan Khan at the top of the merit list to appoint a head of Parco, a joint venture between governments of Pakistan and Abu Dhabi.

Sources said that Mr. Ahsan Khan did not even meet the advertised educational criteria and therefore, he stood disqualified. He possessed a Bachelor’s degree while the required qualification was at least a Master’s.

The high power committee had recommended a panel of five candidates who included Ahsan Khan, placing at the top of the merit list. The second candidate was Shahid Mahmood Khan. Other candidates included Yacoob Sutter, Akbar Ali Khan, and Syed Zawar Haider.

Sources further said that the consultant had placed Ahsan Khan, Akbar Ali Khan, and Syed Zawar Halder in the “Not considered suitable” category as per their own devised methodology for shortlisting candidates. However, the committee included these three candidates in the merit list for the appointment of CEO Parco.

Pak Arab Refinery Limited (PARCO) is a Public Sector Limited Company. It registered under the Companies Act, 2017. The Company established as a joint Abu Dhabi of Pakistan (GoP) and a joint venture between the Government Petroleum Investment Company (ADPIC) at a ratio of 60:40, respectively. PARCO is a special Company, and its affairs and operations governed through a series of agreements between the GoP and Emirate of Abu Dhabi (EoAD).

The government of Pakistan nominates Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The advertisement for the post of MD/CEO PARCO published in ‘Dawn newspaper on 27th October 2019. The task assigned to a headhunter firm, i.e., Sidat Hyder Associates (Pvt.) Limited (Consultant).

Thereafter, the consultant received a total of one hundred and twenty-seven (127) applications. Out of these, Only fourteen (14) profiles shortlisted for interview. The interview committee conducted the preliminary interviews of the fourteen candidates. After the interviews, then five candidates shortlisted, and they again re-interviewed. However, the government finally turned down the committee’s recommendation. Finally, it appointed Shahid Khan, who was working as deputy managing director Parco.