Monitoring Report
Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) are working under the acting managing directors (MDs) which has affected the performance of both state-owned oil and gas giants.
According to sources, OGDCL and PPL are being run on adhoc basis as the cabinet division has so far failed to get the federal cabinet’s approval regarding the appointment of regular heads (MDs) of the OGDCL and PPL. They said that though the process for the appointment was initiated in the past, however, summaries for the appointment of both MDs are pending with Prime Minister’s Office. They said the appointment of the two MDs could not take place following the constitution of a committee by the Prime Minister’s Office while so far not a single meeting of this committee is convened to take a decision in this regard. Ex-PM Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi who is part of this committee has so far failed to ensure holding of a meeting of the committee despite many efforts, said sources.
They added that the undue delay in the appointment of regular MDs of OGDCL & PPL has allegedly been badly affecting the performance of both state-owned Exploration and Production (E&P) companies.
“Undue delay is allegedly being made only to dishearten the shortlisted candidates for the top lucrative slots of OGDCL & PPL,” said sources.
Sources said that a Section Officer (SO) of the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) is repeatedly contacting with the shortlisted candidates and he is asking various questions to the shortlisted candidates about their willingness to join the top offices of the OGDCL and PPL. After getting the willingness of these shortlisted candidates, the SO submits his report about the shortlisted candidates to the concerned authorities for further process at their end, they added.
The Prime Minister Office had earlier constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Prime Minister to review the proposal and firm up its recommendations regarding of MDs of OGDCL & PPL and Minister of State for Petroleum is a member of this committee while Ex-PM Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi, Advisor to the PM on Establishment and Secretary, Petroleum Division have been made part of the committee on special invitation.
So for, the interviews for the top position of PPL managing director have already been conducted and three candidates named as Imran Abbasi, Moin Raza Khan, Sikandar Memon have been shortlisted to fill the top lucrative slot of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL). Similarly, the names of incumbent MD PRL Zahid Mir, ISGS MD Nadeem Bajwa and MD Shell Pakistan Limited Haroon Rasheed has been shortlisted for the top position of MD OGDCL.
At present, OGDCL is being run by Khalid Subhani on an acting charge as a stop gap measure since October 2021 following the unexpected submission of resignation Shahid Salim from MD OGDCL position. While, PPL is being run by Moin Raza Khan as managing director of PPL on an acting charge since January 2018 after getting six monthly extensions even after reaching the age of retirement. The sixth extension of acting MD PLL is going to expire on 22nd August 2022.
Sources claimed that gas production of PPL and OGDCL has reduced under the leadership of acting MDs as PPL ‘s gas production has decreased to 680 Million Cubic Feet per Day (MMCFD) from 900MMCFD while gas production of OGDCL has also reduced from 1250 MMCFD to 1050MMCFD.
