DG Petroleum Concession facing NAB probe removed

ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the Petroleum Division has removed Director General Petroleum Concession (DGPC) Imran Ahmad, who was allegedly involved in inflicting a huge loss of $50 million on the national exchequer for not extending marginal price incentive enshrined in guidelines 2013 and for hurdles in connecting the gas supply from Badin-IV South Gas Fields to the national transmission on time. He was responsible for eight months' delay in injecting the cheap gas into the system.

"The Petroleum Division has given the charge of DGPC to newly-appointed Joint Secretary (Development) Ms Saira Najeeb. And in another development, secretary petroleum has also removed an employee of Mari Petroleum Limited Company Hasan Mehmood, who was working as petroleum economist in the Directorate General Petroleum Concessions. Hasan Mahmood was getting a very attractive salary from the Mari Petroleum and he was the man who had an important role in preparing the ECC summaries on behalf of the Petroleum Division and was appointed to do important official assignments of the division. He also visited many countries on the expense of many exploration and production companies. His appointment in Directorate General Petroleum Concessions, being the employee of Mari Petroleum, was a classic example of conflict of interest," a senior official told The News.

Spokesman of Petroleum Division confirmed the removal of DGPC Imran Ahmed saying the charge of DGPC has been given to Joint Secretary Development. According to the official documents, the anti-graft body had in its latest correspondence on March 19, 2020 sent a set of 25 specific and precise questions to Director General Petroleum Concessions (DGPC), seeking explanations on the issue.

In the case of Badin-IV, NAB asked the information about the role of DGPC Imran Ahmad, ex-consultant Ishaq Saaqi and details about the recommendations of sitting secretary petroleum and other senior officials the extension of contract.