The newly appointed Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) chief Uzma Adil Khan on Monday took charge of her duties. The government appointed her after the retirement of Saeed Ahmad Khan, former chairman Ogra, following her appointment the quorum of the regulator is completed as it has now three members necessary to the review important issues related to consumers' gas prices and approval of revenue requirements of two gas distribution companies.
The Ogra Chairman slot fell vacant after the retirement of Saeed Khan in April this year. The government constituted a five-member committee for the scrutiny of aspiring candidates, and the committee short listed names of Uzma Adil, Ijaz Chaudhary and Noor-ul-Haque for the position.
The regulatory body was without a Chairman since April 2016 after the retirement of Saeed Ahmad Khan and without permanent Member Oil since 2014 after the retirement of Sabir Hussain, the former Member Oil.
According to an Ogra spokesman, she has over 30 years of experience at public as well as private sectors, adding that with the joining of the Chairperson, the Authority's quorum is completed.
Her previous assignment was as Managing Director, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and earlier as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). She joined SNGPL in 2001 to rise to the top slot of state-owned utility within 15 years. She is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) and Institute of Secretaries and Managers (ICSM). Before joining the SNGPL, she served at senior positions in textile, educational institutions and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).
In a statement issued by the Ogra, it has been said that the new chairperson being first-ever female head of the Authority believes in development-oriented regulations. Uzma Adil Khan, the new Chairperson Ogra, had joined with a vision to strengthen the regulator as a pro-public service regulator, the spokesperson added.
Sources said that for the appointment of Member Oil, the government completed the process in October 2015 but as yet has not made any appointment. They further stated that for the post of Member Oil, Zain-ul-Abidin Qureshi, senior executive director Ogra was in the race. The Ogra had to take a number of necessary steps including approval of Final Revenue Requirements (FRPP) of Sui-Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) and Sui-Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) but in the absence of Member Oil and Chairman the Authority failed to make above mentioned decision, sources said.
The Chairman and Members are appointed by the federal government through a competitive process on tenure basis in accordance with the provisions of the Ogra Ordinance. The Ogra consists of four members namely Chairman, Member Oil, Member Gas and Member Finance. In order to pass any important order the presence of three members is required for a quorum.
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