The spokesman for Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), Imran Ghaznavi has said that Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources (MP&NR) is not engaged with regulatory framework enshrined in the Ogra Ordinance. The Ogra spokesman said this while exclusively talking to Business Recorder on Thursday. He said that Ogra is of the view MP&NR is controlling ministry of major licensees of Ogra and is well aware of the regulatory matters concerning these licensees.
He said that through the recent transfer of administrative control, the ministry might also be sensitive to the requirements of Ogra and facilitating smooth functioning between licenser and licensee. As far as independence of regulatory functions is concerned, the Ogra is obliged to remain within the limits prescribed by Ogra Ordinance in discharging its statutory obligations and any administrate authority will also ensure its compliance, he said.
Imran Ghaznavi said that Ogra neither had any issue while working through Cabinet Division nor it expects any interference in its statutory working through/with Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources. He said that Ogra has special powers and is independent in performance of its functions without any administrative control from the government. However for the sake of interaction with federal and provincial governments, it is placed under the ministry.