PTI govt places eminent names on boards of state units

Petroleum minister says PTI has delivered on its poll promise

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has delivered on its poll pledge by reappointing board of directors of all public sector companies working under the Petroleum Division, remarked Federal Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan while presiding over a meeting at the Petroleum Division on Wednesday.

A day ago, the federal cabinet approved the appointment of new board members of the public sector companies working under the Ministry of Energy’s Petroleum Division. The appointments were made after invitation of applications by the Petroleum Division and completion of interviews.

“The nominations to the board of directors were made while following a strict process based on transparency and merit,” said the Petroleum Division in a statement.

The petroleum minister said eminent names from the industry had been placed on top positions within these organisations. In a first in the country’s history, he added, it had been ensured that all provinces received equal representation on the board of directors. The minister pointed out that the government ensured that women were also represented on all the boards with Dr Shamshad Akhtar, ex-governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and a leading UN professional, becoming the first woman to head the board of Sui Southern Gas Company.

Dilawar Abbas Shah will lead Sui Northern Gas Pipelines as its chairperson. He has over four decades of experience in the oil and gas sector. Qamar Sharif has been nominated Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) chairperson. He holds a PhD in Petroleum and has over 40 years of experience in exploration and production globally.

Another prominent appointment is of Shamsuddin Sheikh, who has been made chairperson of the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation. He holds an MBA from the US in addition to ME in Industrial Engineering, this too from the US.

“It has also been ensured that the nominees carry a blend of technical, management, legal and banking experience to reform these utilities, improve their standards and bring them on a par with best global practices,” the statement said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2019.

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