Islamabad: Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum on Wednesday reviewed administrative and institutional matters related to the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP), including the appointment of its head, the composition of its Board of Directors, the budget, and the regularisation of employees.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Umar Farooq.
During the meeting, Senator Qurat-ul-Ain Marri expressed concern over delays by the Petroleum Division in providing relevant documents to the committee.
She said the failure to provide the required documents on time reflected the incompetence of the Petroleum Ministry. She stressed that relevant papers should be provided promptly so the committee could effectively perform its oversight role.
The committee then discussed the leadership of HDIP. Chairman Senator Umar Farooq asked officials since when the institute had been without a permanent head. Officials of the Petroleum Division said the Special Secretary of the Petroleum Division had been holding the additional charge of HDIP temporarily for the past two years.
Expressing concern over the prolonged interim arrangement, Senator Umar Farooq asked how long the institute would continue to function without a permanent head. Officials said the appointment process was in its final stages. They said the head would be appointed after approval by the prime minister.
The committee was informed that HDIP conducts quality checks of imported fuel and is mainly a research institution. Officials said the institute had an annual budget of Rs700 million. The government also provides it with a grant of Rs50 million. The institute generates around Rs650 million through testing services.
The committee also directed the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), in line with directions of the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister’s Office, to provide gas within five kilometres of the gas well and ensure implementation of the directive. The committee was also briefed on the employment structure at HDIP.
Officials said some employees were regular while others were working on a contractual basis. They said some temporary employees had approached courts and later secured regular employment through judicial proceedings.
The committee also discussed the case of a female temporary employee. Senator Umar Farooq pointed out that the woman had not approached the court and asked why she had not been regularised. Officials said the employee had submitted an application to the institute’s Board of Directors. However, the board had not decided in her favour.
Senator Umar Farooq also sought details about the composition of the Board of Directors and its members. Officials said the board was currently inactive. They said the appointment of members from the private sector was still pending.
Senator Umar Farooq expressed concern over the institutional governance of HDIP. He noted that the institute had been without a permanent head for two years and that its board was also incomplete.
He questioned how the institute could effectively perform its administrative and research functions under such circumstances. On the regularisation of the female officer, Senator Qurat-ul-Ain Marri said the committee had already recommended her regularisation.
She stressed the need to ensure justice for women from Balochistan. She said very few women from the province were working, and they should be treated fairly. Senator Jam Saifullah Khan took a firm position on the matter. He asked why the issue had not been resolved if a court had already given a decision and the standing committee had also made a recommendation.
He warned that the matter would be referred to the Privileges Committee if the standing committee’s recommendation was not implemented. Senator Umar Farooq directed the Petroleum Division to implement the committee’s recommendation. He said the division should itself take action on the matter.
The committee stressed the need to make progress on the appointment of the HDIP head, completion of its Board of Directors and resolution of the female officer’s regularisation case.
Senator Jam Saifullah Khan also emphasised that oil and gas exploration companies should contribute to the development of areas where successful discoveries were made.
He said development of discovery areas was a fundamental right of local people. He stressed that the benefits of natural resources should reach communities living in those areas.
Senator Jam Saifullah Khan said the prime minister had issued clear instructions for providing gas within a radius of five kilometres of a gas well.
He stressed that the instructions should be implemented in letter and spirit. He also called on the Petroleum Ministry to issue clear policy guidelines on the matter at the earliest.
Officials of the Petroleum Division informed the committee that the required guidelines would be prepared within one month.
The committee also raised questions about the appointment of the Director General of the Department of Explosives.
Senator Umar Farooq asked officials about the procedure followed for appointing the DG.
He observed that instead of bringing a person from outside the department, a suitable person from within the department should have been considered.
The chairman directed officials to give a detailed briefing at the next meeting on the educational qualifications of the head of the Department of Explosives and the procedure followed for his appointment.
The committee sought complete details to ensure transparency and merit in the appointment process.
The committee also discussed matters relating to SNGPL and raised questions about the powers of the committee to decide such matters.
