The government is finally geared up to appoint managing directors of the country’s two big state-run hydrocarbon explorers that are running without a permanent head for past many months.
Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) have been working on an ad hoc basis since the days of previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
The government has now initiated a final process to fill the top slots of managing director/ chief executive officer.
According to sources, a few members of the federal cabinet have approved the appointment of Zahid Mir as MD/ CEO of OGDCL and Imran Abbasi as MD/ CEO of PPL for three years through the circulation of a summary. However, some cabinet members have yet to sign the summary.
Sources pointed out that the top position at OGDCL was being held on an acting charge for the past one year while PPL had been operating with an ad hoc arrangement at the helm for the last three years.
“The cabinet’s decision to fill both the top positions has still not been communicated to the Petroleum Division,” a source said, adding that the Cabinet Division would issue a notification after all cabinet members along with the prime minister gave their nod for the appointments.
According to sources, gas production by OGDCL and PPL has gone down under the leadership of acting heads. OGDCL’s production has shrunk from 1,250 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) to 1,050 mmcfd while PPL’s gas output has decreased to 680 mmcfd from 900 mmcfd.
Zahid Mir, who has worked as OGDCL MD in the past as well, is currently working as MD of Pakistan Refinery Limited.
During his tenure at OGDCL, Mir took certain initiatives that played a key role in improving performance of the company and led to savings of billions of rupees.
The company hit the peak production level of 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) and achieved the drilling target of 100,000 metres for a year. It also completed several projects which included Kunnar Pasakhi Deep, Uch, Nashpa and Sinjhoro fields that resulted in a substantial improvement in oil and gas production.
Earlier, the Petroleum Division submitted two separate summaries dated July 26 and 27, 2022 to the prime minister for the appointment of PPL and OGDCL MDs.
The PM Office constituted a committee, headed by the PM himself, for reviewing proposals and finalising recommendations for the hiring.
After detailed deliberations and interviews of shortlisted candidates, the committee recommended a list of three aspirants for the post of OGDCL MD/ CEO for approval of the federal cabinet. The list included names of Zahid Mir, Nadeem Bajwa and Haroon Rashid.
Similarly, three names including Imran Abbasi, Moin Raza Khan and Sikandar Memon were recommended to the federal cabinet for approval to fill the post of PPL MD/ CEO.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2022.
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