The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has become a hotspot for government officers postings, with two more Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) officers joining the regulator on deputation. This move perpetuates the adhocism that has plagued OGRA, following the appointment of the Establishment Secretary as its chairman.
New Appointments
Majid Mohsin Panhwar, a BS-20 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, previously posted as Director General in the President's Secretariat, has been transferred to OGRA on deputation for one year. Similarly, Flt. Lt. (Retd.) Imran Ali Sultan, a BS-18 PAS officer from the Punjab government, has also been placed at OGRA's disposal on deputation for the same period. Both appointments are effective immediately and until further orders, according to notifications issued by the Establishment Division.
Parliamentary Concerns
A parliamentary panel had previously criticized OGRA as a “rubber stamp” despite having a full-time chairman. With PAS officers now occupying key positions, the regulator's image is likely to suffer further. The effectiveness of OGRA as an independent regulator is compromised when its chairman and two other top posts are held by PAS officials on deputation.
Adhoc Management
The adhoc management of OGRA at this critical juncture, amidst major developments in the oil and gas sector, threatens to disrupt its smooth functioning. In April, the federal government assigned additional charge of the OGRA chairman to Nabeel Ahmad Awan, a BS-22 PAS officer serving as Secretary of the Establishment Division, for three months or until a regular chairman is appointed. This adhoc arrangement has persisted for nearly 16 months.
Background
Former chairman Masroor Khan was appointed by the PTI government in February 2021 for a four-year term. His term ended on February 22, 2025, and he received a one-year extension from the current government, which expired on February 22, 2026. In January 2026, before the expiry of his extended tenure, the government initiated the process to appoint a new chairman. After a delay of 11 days following Khan's tenure expiry, Shahzad Iqbal, Member (Gas) at OGRA, was appointed as acting chairperson. However, instead of appointing a regular chairman, the government opted for adhocism by giving additional charge to a bureaucrat.
