Appointments in OGDC: MD makes shocking disclosures to Senate body

In a shocking disclosure to the Senate Special Committee, Managing Director (MD) of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC), Naeem Malik on Tuesday said that only 1.76 percent appointments were made on merit of total 7.5 percent merit jobs quota during last three years ie, from 2007 to 2010.
The list pertaining to appointments in OGDC, submitted to the committee is silent on illegal appointments of 12 officers, including Executive Directors (EDs) who are still on the job and no action has been taken though the matter was brought to the notice of National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources.
The Senate body was also informed that the Islamabad High Court has issued stay order in case of 300 recent appointments being made in OGDC. While talking to Business Recorder, Abdul Rasheed Shanwari, President of Mutahidda Mazdoor Ithad, OGDC, who obtained stay order from Court, said that the OGDC management was making appointments on political grounds.
"Many skilled people are working in different fields who were appointed through third-party contract," he said, adding that "I have prayed in the petition that OGDC should have adjusted internal manpower as the company has surplus workers in the field, and overcrowding it through political appointees would lead to financial default like what is being faced by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Pakistan Railways".
The list of appointments during period from September 2007 to December 2010 left the Senate body fingers crossed as 12 officers were appointed only from Balochistan in OGDC. Senator Shahid Bugti strongly criticised OGDC on misleading the committee as out of total 12, only eight officers were appointed from Balochistan, whereas four, belonging to Punjab, had been appointed against Balochistan''s quota.
The committee directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and OGDC to examine the case and fix responsibility on those who had made such move and appointed four officers from Punjab on Balochistan quota. "OGDC has misled the committee, and action should be taken against the responsible elements," Shahid said. Another shocking disclosure was made during the meeting that OGDC had denied job to one candidate from Balochistan after issuing appointment letter.
"I have ordered an inquiry two months back after the case came to my knowledge," MD OGDC said. Chairman of the Committee, Nayyar Bukhari, said that responsibility should be fixed against those who had issued appointment letter first and refused joining later on. Shahid said that colonial attitude of OGDC must be changed to address the grievances of the Balochistan people.
According to a report, OGDC made irregular appointments, from 2006 to 2010, on 25 key posts on attractive pay packages in violation of rules and regulations. Out of total 25 officials, around 12 officials are still working. The officials whose appointments were made against rules and regulations include Salman Amin, GM Audit. Colonel (Retd) Shafqat Hussain GM, Communication, Aftab Ahmad Executive Director (ED), Strategy Business Planning (SBP) at a financially attractive package of Rs 780,087 per month, Masood Nabi Executive Director, Joint Venture (JV) at Rs 800,000 per month, Asif Sindhu, ED, Finance, at Rs 800,000 per month salary, Tariq Mahmood Manager, Social Welfare, Qamar Zaman GM Joint Venture, Lieutenant Colonel (r) Javaid Iqbal Assistant Manager, Security, Talal Haider Chief Human Resource (HR) officer, Babar Iftikhar Deputy Chief Engineer Health Safety, Mehurinsa deputy chief corporate Law and Mobeen Aftktar deputy chief corporate legal.
Senator Tahir Mashahidi said that there was favouritism in all state-run organisations, including OGDC, and Balochistan had always been neglected in appointments on its quota. He said that it was regrettable that 50 percent officials were from Punjab in OGDC despite the fact that the province has low oil and gas production compared to Sindh and Balochistan.
About sitting of Wasim A Zuberi as Director on the Board of OGDC, MD Naeem Malik informed the committee that Zuberi had submitted resignation after media report about his affiliation with one company as consultant. "But I have requested him to stay on board as he has vast experience in oil and gas sector to give input for better working of the company," he said.