Ogra in disarray amid pricing probe, legal challenges

• Member (oil) steps down after FIA quizzing on price differential claims • Legal cover for appointment of civil servant to head regulator ‘on the cards’ ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) is in disarray after one of its three members stepped down amid pricing investigations, amid a government move to depute civil servants to run the otherwise autonomous regulator. In order to give legal cover to the appointment of civil servants in Ogra, the government has reportedly initiated the process to amend the Ogra law through a presidential ordinance before the budget. According to sources, Ogra member (oil) Zainul Abideen Qureshi tendered his resignation from the position following his interrogation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Karachi over controversial payments to an oil marketing company (OMC) on account of price differential claims (PDCs) arising out of subsidised oil pricing after the US-Iran war. The FIA found misreporting of oil stocks and sales, apparently for pricing benefits, leading reportedly to Rs14bn questionable claims. While Go Petroleum secured a stay order against the FIA probe from the Sindh High Court, the federal government constituted a committee led by an additional secretary of the Ministry of Finance and comprising senior representatives of the petroleum division, the FBR, the auditor general and Ogra to examine in detail the integrity of PDC payments. The FIA, however, quizzed Mr Qureshi and Director (Oil) General Imran Ahmad in separate sessions spanning over 72 hours. While otherwise defending the oil pricing and PDC reconciliation process, Mr Qureshi tendered his resignation upon returning to the capital last week. On the other hand, the government has inducted at least three officers of the district management group — renamed Pakistan Administrative Service — in Ogra without legal cover. On April 8, the government appointed Secretary Establishment Nabeel Ahmed Awan as Ogra chairman for three months. The post had fallen vacant almost 18 months ago but the government did not make a new appointment for unknown reasons. Under the Ogra law, the vice chairman holds the charge in the absence of the chairman. Shahzad Iqbal, member gas, had actually taken over the chairman’s slot but was denotified by the government in the middle of oil supply arrangements following the Gulf conflict. Meanwhile, even tho­ugh Mr Awan’s appointment as the Ogra chairman was challenged in the Islamabad High Court, he has acquired the services of at least two more officers on deputation last week. They include Majid Mohsin Panhwar of BS-20 and Imran Ali Sultan of BS-18. According to sources, the cabinet committee on legislative cases has already cleared amendments to the Ogra law to provide for the appointment of BS-21 and 22 officers against the position of the chairman for four years, extendable for another term, along with the deputation of other civil servants to assist the chairman. The amendments to the Ogra law may be made through a presidential ordinance ahead of budget sessions later this week, before the court could take cognisance of the matter. Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2026

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