At loggerheads again: OGRA flouts rules to depute SNGPL employee
MD SNGPL says company rules do not allow deputation.
ISLAMABAD:
Employees of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) have threatened to go on strike if the regulator goes ahead with its decision to bring over an employee of SNGPL on depuation to a key post.
Apparently SNGPL company rules have been ignored in deciding to depute an SNGPL employee to the post of Joint Executive Director (Technical). According to Ogra employees who asked not to be named, they would protest against this move as they fear it hampers and threatens their career prospects and promotions.
It is interesting to note that SNGPL official who was transferred from Islamabad managed a way of deputation in Ogra to stay in federal capital.
“The incumbent Masroor Ahmad is an employee of SNGPL whose appointment in OGRA will create conflict of interest and jeopardise judicious regulation,” Ogra employees said.
When contacted, acting Chairman Ogra Sabir Hussain said that rules and regulations allowed the authority to depute officials of federal, provincial governments and public sector companies. “The SNGPL official is being deputed for 90 days as an expert of gas infrastructure development and the period of deputation will not be extended further,” Sabir Hussain said, adding that his deputation was not being made against any post and therefore, no promotion of any official would be affected. He maintained that Ogra had sent requisition to SNGPL to relieve officials for deputation in Ogra. “If SNGPL does not allow his deputation, he will not be deputed in Ogra,” Hussain added.
When contacted, SNGPL Managing Director (MD) Arif Hameed said that SNGPL had received a requisition from Ogra to this effect. “However, SNGPL rules and regulations do not allow sending officials on deputation in Ogra,” he said, adding that this decision would now have to be put before the board of directors.
“As the rules stand, if an employee wants deputation in Ogra, he will have to resign.” Hameed also confirmed that the official in question had been transferred from Islamabad.
The regular employees of OGRA said that they would use all available legal avenues to get this decision reversed. They have also conveyed their concerns to the Authority in writing.
“We will start peaceful and disciplined protest by wearing black arm-bands and standing in front of the office of the Authority (Ogra) till the decision is reversed,” they said, adding that if the decision is not reversed, the employees will take the matter to court.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2011.
Employees of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) have threatened to go on strike if the regulator goes ahead with its decision to bring over an employee of SNGPL on depuation to a key post.
Apparently SNGPL company rules have been ignored in deciding to depute an SNGPL employee to the post of Joint Executive Director (Technical). According to Ogra employees who asked not to be named, they would protest against this move as they fear it hampers and threatens their career prospects and promotions.
It is interesting to note that SNGPL official who was transferred from Islamabad managed a way of deputation in Ogra to stay in federal capital.
“The incumbent Masroor Ahmad is an employee of SNGPL whose appointment in OGRA will create conflict of interest and jeopardise judicious regulation,” Ogra employees said.
When contacted, acting Chairman Ogra Sabir Hussain said that rules and regulations allowed the authority to depute officials of federal, provincial governments and public sector companies. “The SNGPL official is being deputed for 90 days as an expert of gas infrastructure development and the period of deputation will not be extended further,” Sabir Hussain said, adding that his deputation was not being made against any post and therefore, no promotion of any official would be affected. He maintained that Ogra had sent requisition to SNGPL to relieve officials for deputation in Ogra. “If SNGPL does not allow his deputation, he will not be deputed in Ogra,” Hussain added.
When contacted, SNGPL Managing Director (MD) Arif Hameed said that SNGPL had received a requisition from Ogra to this effect. “However, SNGPL rules and regulations do not allow sending officials on deputation in Ogra,” he said, adding that this decision would now have to be put before the board of directors.
“As the rules stand, if an employee wants deputation in Ogra, he will have to resign.” Hameed also confirmed that the official in question had been transferred from Islamabad.
The regular employees of OGRA said that they would use all available legal avenues to get this decision reversed. They have also conveyed their concerns to the Authority in writing.
“We will start peaceful and disciplined protest by wearing black arm-bands and standing in front of the office of the Authority (Ogra) till the decision is reversed,” they said, adding that if the decision is not reversed, the employees will take the matter to court.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2011.