DG of Petroleum Concessions transferred

ISLAMABAD: The government has transferred Director General Petroleum Concessions (DGPC) Kashif Ali (BS-20) take over as DG Administration and Special Projects with an immediate effect in the policy wing, says a notification.

Riaz Ali (BS-19) has been posted as DGPC on a current charge basis for 90 days with immediate effect. In addition, Dr Nawaz Ahmad Virk (BS-20) currently working as DG admin has been posted as DG Minerals with immediate effect.

Kashif Ali’s transfer has been ordered in the wake of changes made in petroleum policy 2012 by the caretaker regime under which the exploration and production (E&P) companies have been allowed to sell 35 percent of gas from future discoveries to the private sector, top officials at the Energy Ministry told The News.

The Council of Common Interests (CCI) approved on January 26 this year the amended policy, but it had asked the Petroleum Division to submit an implementation framework with the ECNEC for implementation of changed policy. However, after seven months, the Petroleum Division is yet to submit the timeframe to ECNEC for approval. Ali had been facing the music over the gas policy approved by the caretaker regime. “In the SIFC’s Executive Committee meeting, the minister was quoted as saying that DGPC did not share the data with him which is why he was unable to approve the amended petroleum policy and tight gas policy. However, in that SIFC meeting, secretary petroleum was not on the same page with the minister,” said the official. This correspondent tried to contact Petroleum Minister Musadik Masood Malik but he did not take the phone calls.