Sitting Members rejected for chairman OGRA

Muhammad Afzaal

Islamabad: While rejecting current members’ regulators, the selection committee has shortlisted five candidates who have questionable credentials for the post of chairman of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).

The Committee re-constituted by Prime Minister Imran Khan aimed at hiring Chairman OGRA has completed the exercise of interview and finalized 5 names for the position.

The Prime Minister Imran khan has shelved a committee formed earlier comprising chairman board of director Pakistan State Oil and reconstituted a committee after objections were raised on its earlier nominations, as it had conflict of interest. The Chairman of the Committee, Shehzad Akbar had removed 2 members from the committee formed earlier and brought in Professionals to hire chairman Ogra.

The Committee has conducted interview of 26 candidates and finalized a list of 5 candidates in final nominations.

After clearance from the intelligence agencies, these names would be tabled before cabinet for formal approval.

Amongst the short listed candidates, three are from OGRA.

Dr Abdullah Malik, who has served as member Oil in Ogra and was retired recently, had not no major achievements on his credit as member oil. The member oil is to ensure the monitoring storage of petroleum products by oil marketing companies (OMCs).However, it was exposed in month of June this year when OMCs failed to maintain required storage of oil.

https://newztodays.com/3-candidates-short-listed-for-member-oil-ogra/

He was brought in through the process but with the political backing during previous government of PML-N.

Next candidate is Zainul Abideen Qureshi who is currently working as senior executive director (SED) Appeals. He is also potential candidate for member oil. Shehzad Iqbal, SED Gas is also said not to be well versed in field of oil but becomes potential candidate for the chairman Ogra.

The other two other candidates selected for final phase of appointment. One is Salman Amin currently CFO at NEPRA. He was previously appointed in Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (Ogdcl).His appointment was dubious and several questions were raised on the process of his appointment. He had worked as general manager and dealing with lucrative subject of LPG.

Next shortlisted candidate is Salman Qaiserani, currently DDG at FWO. Sources told Newztodays.com that there were various investigations against him in PSO, when he resigned from PSO. He is reportedly considered to be enjoying political backing.

However, there is serious setback for some other candidates who have been rejected despite being serving as members Ogra. Amongst the rejected candidates two are currently Members of Authority. Noorul Huq, who had come into OGRA on the political backing and is currently Member Finance, and the other is Member Gas Mohammad Arif, former GM at OGDC.

It would be prudent if the PM rejects all the short listed candidates with questionable backgrounds for the position of OGRA, and a new approach is taken to urgently appoint Chairman OGRA, which is a very important position in the Oil and Gas sector of the country, industry officials say.