AGP objects to OGDC executive director’s appointment

Highlights criteria for the post changed to benefit a ‘favourite candidate’

ISLAMABAD:

The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) on Tuesday raised objections over the “irregular appointment” of executive director by the state-run Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) board of directors, which caused a loss of Rs13.5 million to the public exchequer.

The top auditor observed that a candidate who did not qualify for the position of general manager was appointed as the executive director due to undue favour. Therefore, the appointment, as well as payment of salary of Rs13.5 million, was declared irregular.

The audit report for the financial year 2019-20 observed that the management floated an advertisement for the post of general manager along with other posts on February 24, 2019.

The management, however, scrapped the recruitment process of the general manager as no candidate was considered eligible for the said position.

Read AGP detects financial irregularities in BISP

Muhammad Aamir Salim was among the ineligible candidates who were not recommended by the recruitment committee due to irrelevant experience. Similarly, no candidate was selected for the post of executive director.

On June 30, 2019, the management again advertised for the post of executive director (Petroserv). The previous advertisement had required experience of six years in senior management.

However, the fresh advertisement specified no such condition for the application allegedly leading to the appointment of Muhammad Aamir Salim who applied for the post and got appointed as executive director (Petroserv) on August 7, 2019.

The auditor highlighted that the change in the criteria was made to benefit a “favourite candidate”.