Despite objections, Azam appointed HDIP DG

ISLAMABAD: The government, while dismissing reservations of the Establishment Division, has appointed the director general of Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP), though he has faced disciplinary action in the past.

Muhammad Azam has been appointed as the new HDIP director general. Earlier, he has worked as director general oil in the then Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources.

He was suspended in 2015 in the wake of acute petrol shortages, particularly in Punjab, along with top officials of the petroleum ministry and state oil marketing giant Pakistan State Oil (PSO).



It is interesting to note that the Ministry of Energy had sent a summary to the prime minister for Azam’s appointment as the HDIP director general for two years. However, the cabinet in its recent meeting approved his hiring for a period of three years instead of the proposed two years.

HDIP is an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division). It is governed under the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan Act 2006. Under Section 8 of the Act, the federal government is empowered to appoint the HDIP director general.

Its task is to test petroleum products like oil and even all imported petroleum products are tested by its laboratories.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior government official said the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) had sent a summary to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi through the Establishment Division for appointing the director general of HDIP for two years.

While forwarding the summary, the Establishment Division pointed to the selection and appointment of a retired officer who had been an employee of the Petroleum Division and had faced disciplinary proceedings at the time of retirement.



It conveyed to the premier that as the officer had been facing disciplinary proceedings, his appointment should be reconsidered. Following the Establishment Division’s observation, the prime minister directed that the case should be tabled before the cabinet for consideration.

According to the senior official, the cabinet considered the summary and approved the appointment of Azam as the HDIP director general for three years. It was decided that terms and conditions of the appointment would be submitted separately for approval of the federal government.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2017.

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