OGDC head: Ministry tries to ‘influence’ appointment

Denies allegation, saying candidates have applied for the slot.

ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources is making efforts to appoint managing director of the Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) by ignoring the set procedure, sparking fears that someone with the ministry’s backing may be given the post.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the petroleum ministry had hired a headhunter – Sidat Hyder Morshed Associate Private Limited – and was ignoring the due process of getting nomination of candidates for appointing the new OGDC chief. The ministry was also required to advertise for selecting a headhunter, but it was also ignored.

Sidat Hyder is currently working with OGDC on a pay and salary compensation survey for the company’s employees.

However, according to sources, the ministry had sought nomination of four candidates from the headhunter for the post of OGDC managing director, which was contrary to rules and regulations. Under the rules, the headhunter is also required to advertise to fill the post in a bid to ensure transparency.

Following the ministry’s request, the headhunter gave names of four candidates, who had appeared before the interview committee on Saturday. Of these, only one has experience of working in a small oil and gas exploration company.

When contacted, Petroleum Secretary Ijaz Chaudhry told The Express Tribune that Sidat Hyder gave nominations from among candidates who had applied for the post in response to a second advertisement.

According to sources, these candidates had not applied for the slot of OGDC MD in response to the second advertisement.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2012.