Rs 266 million cash payments of WPPF: FIA, OGDCL directed to reopen inquiry

A parliamentary panel has directed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Oil and Gas Development Corporation Limited (OGDCL) to reopen an inquiry into cash payments of Rs266 million out of (OGDCL) Workers' Profit Participation Fund (WPPF) to non-entitled employees of the company.
National Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources which met here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Chaudhary Bilal Ahmad Virk directed the OGDCL to formally lodge a complaint in this regard and provide requisite information to the investigation agency.
The panel also directed the country's largest oil/gas exploration and production company to start an internal inquiry into bogus medical bills worth hundreds of millions of rupees by the employees as well as massive financial embezzlements in the transport department through stealing high speed diesel (HSD).
Managing Director OGDCL Nasir Mir while briefing the committee said the entity was the second highest HSD consumer after Pakistan Army, adding that per year HSD consumption of the company stood at Rs4 billion, of which hundreds of million of rupees were going in the hands of corrupt staff on account of bogus claims.
The committee was informed that Rs98 million and Rs238 million were paid in cash to the employees of OGDCL in years 2006-07 and 2007-08 respectively by the office-bearers of the OGDCL Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) for which record is not available with the company.
The committee directed the OGDCL management to also hold an internal inquiry into the issue and identify persons who received the money for its subsequent disbursement to the employees. Nasir Mir apprised the committee that an inquiry was conducted by FIA in 2010 on the complaint initiated by third party employees regarding disbursement of WPPF funds who had either received less payment or the payments were made to non-entitled employees; however, the inquiry was closed by the FIA due to non-availability of concrete evidence.
The OGDCL officials further informed the committee whenever the management starts taking action against corrupt employees; the labour unions go for strikes to shield them.
While expressing its displeasure over disclosure of spending of huge amounts on medical treatment of the OGDCL employees, the committee directed the OGDCL management to hold an inquiry against the employees involved in the misuse of medical facilities at different stations of the OGDCL.
The committee also directed the FIA to assist OGDCL in recovery of embezzled/misused medical funds by the employees. The committee was apprised that Rs900 million were incurred on medical treatment of employees during the last five years. Taking cognisance of the massive expenditure on medical treatment, an inquiry was conducted which identified involvement of 77 employees in misuse of medical facility at head office and field establishments. The MD further apprised that inquiry was in progress and disciplinary action would be taken against those held responsible.
The committee while discussing the logistic operations, budget and spending of the OGDCL, directed the National Accountability Bureau to present the latest update on a case related to diesel theft at Tando Alam Field amounting to Rs328 million against Hussain Bux Narejo and others in the next meeting of the committee.
The MD informed the committee that the company had saved substantial amount of money due to stringent measures initiated to address the fuel theft.
The committee disposed of the complaint of MNA Siraj Muhammad Khan over delay in opening of regional office of the SNGPL at Mardan since it had been made functional and was catering to the gas consumers of the area. The committee directed the SSGCL management to complete gas pipeline by March 31, 2017, which would supply gas to Sanghar city and its adjoining areas.
The Managing Director SSGCL apprised the committee of the measures initiated to address the problem of low pressure of gas in Sindh and assured that the situation will improve in the coming days.