PM office okays three candidates for MD Parco

Aftab Ahmad

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan has given the go-ahead to submit a summary with two names in a race for new head Pak Arab Refinery Limited–PARCO–before the cabinet for approval.

Ahsan Khan is at the top among three candidates for the post of MD Parco, but lacked experience in the refining sector and reportedly rejected by head Hunter Sidaat Hyder.

Interestingly, he was shortlisted for managing director OGDCL but was rejected by the cabinet. However, he has been shortlisted and included in three candidates and placed at the top of the merit list following the pressure of a certain lobby.

Ahsan Khan – is an ex Shell team member and Canadian National. He works for a contracting firm with relevant ownership links in Pakistan named Kainnat Project Management Solutions. He only worked once in Pakistan during his initial career in Exxon Chemicals (now Engro).

https://newztodays.com/cabinet-approves-restructuring-of-parcos-board-of-directors/

He has been mostly working for contracting firms, a big conflict of interest as Parco is to undergo expansion and other new projects. He does not have any experience working in any oil and gas company in Pakistan. Therefore, he carries no exposure to the industry, policy framework, and current issues refineries and industry are confronted with.

Shahid Mehmood Khan – is already working in Parco as DMD and worked in Parco for 13 years. Pak Arab Refinery Limited (Parco) is set to have a new managing director after 13 years.

The Parco is the country’s largest oil refinery, a joint venture between Pakistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

New MD PARCO: Bios of 4 Potential candidates will make any difference in ailing refining sector?

The head’s post has always been a favorite one and influenced by UAE and Baboos in government. However, the question is now whether handpicked candidate for the top post in UAE’s JV in Pakistan will be making a turnaround in the ailing refining sector in Pakistan or face the same fate of previously appointed in other autonomous bodies under the petroleum division.

The PTI government has announced filing the vacant posts of some billions of rupees of profitable entities of the petroleum division. However, after nearly 20 months in office, most MDs are still vacant, and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s warning for filling these vacant posts did not yield results.

So far the petroleum division had made three post appointments that include MDs, PSO, PMDC, and OGDCL, while the over a dozen entities are still awaiting their heads to run it.