Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh government has expressed grave concerns over the appointment of a dual nationality holder as Managing Director of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) on an acting charge basis which is clear violation of the recruitment policy.

The concerns were communicated to Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi by Sindh’s Senior Minister for Food and Parliamentary Affairs Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, a copy of which is also available with the Daily Times. “I take the opportunity to bring to your notice that Zahid Mir, who is originally a Chief Operating Officer in OGDCL also possessing dual nationality i.e. Pakistan and United Kingdom has been posted as Managing Director OGDCL on acting charge basis.

First of all, the posting of a person whose nationality is doubtful is totally illegal besides allowing him acting charge of key post having very high responsibilities is against the spirit of Good Governance”, according to a letter. “It is also pertinent to mention that Sindh province is producing 80 percent of the total production of Gas/Oil, particularly at the gas fields Qadirpur and Maru Reti (district Ghotki), Tando Adam Oil Complex (Hyderabad), Kunhar (district Tando Allahyar), Sinjhoro (district Sanghar). As per policy, staff is recruited from the local gas fields i.e. from Sindh but instead of that 300 to 400 staff have been deployed from other than Sindh province depriving people of Sindh which is their right,” Nisar Khuhro said.

“Keeping in view the above circumstances, I am compelled to express my concerns over the posting of MD OGDCL who is having dual nationality which is in violation of recruitment policy, depriving people of Sindh, and request your gracious honour to intervene in the matter and arrange posting of senior and capable officer who meet the requirement of post”, the letter added.

The minister further stated that illegal appointments of staff from other provinces may be cancelled and therefore providing due share of appointments to the people of Sindh who are being deprived of opportunity. Zahid Mir is a Petroleum Engineer with over 28 years experience in the oil and gas industry, with assignments relating to onshore and offshore operations having been involved at a senior level in all stages of upstream operations.

He has had exposure to field operations including production, project development, development planning, conceptual engineering, and operational support. While in these roles, he has worked with different companies both in Pakistan and United Kingdom such as the Oil & Gas Development Company Limited, Shell Exploration Pakistan B.V., Premier Exploration Pakistan Limited, Premier-Kufpec Pakistan B.V., Premier Oil Pakistan, and Premier Oil U.K.

He completed his BSc in Petroleum Engineering in 1986 from University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore and has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Preston University, Islamabad.