The Secretary Cabinet Division Nargis Sethi has expressed serious concern over Chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Tauqeer Sadiq''s refusal to implement the Cabinet decision to restore powers of Member Gas and formulate a policy on relocating CNG stations sites after a lapse of over four months.
Chairman Ogra reportedly delegated powers of Member Gas to Member Finance Mir Kamal Mari with the objective of allowing 38 illegal relocations of CNG stations'' sites in the absence of a policy, sources allege. Prime Minister Secretariat in a letter to the Cabinet Division noted that "Ogra has not been giving desired weight to the orders of the Cabinet Division which is undesirable".
Prime Minister Secretariat urged the Cabinet Division (to) ensure implementation of its orders given to Ogra under the Rules of Business and maintained that "discipline amongst the subsidiary organs should be a top priority...also the policy for resitement of CNG stations may be finalised expeditiously."
Nargis Sethi in a letter to Chairman Ogra referred to a meeting held on October 13, 2010 during which Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs had observed with concern that OGRA had exceeded its powers by limiting the powers of Member (Gas) and assigning some of these powers to Member (Finance). After a thorough discussion, it was decided that Ogra''s letter No OGRA-14(13)/2010-SBR, dated 19th May, 2010 may be withdrawn immediately and functions of Member (Gas), assigned to Member (Finance), may be restored with immediate effect.
"Unfortunately, the decisions of the meeting have not been implemented by OGRA and despite lapse of over four months, the powers of Member (Gas) have not yet been restored," Sethi said adding that present member (Gas) has also agitated against curtailing his functions. Sethi further maintained that in the appointment of Members, OGRA falls within the purview of federal Government, therefore, neither Chairman nor OGRA as an authority is empowered to curtail or withdraw the powers of any Member and there withdrawal of powers of Member (Gas) is a violation of OGRA Ordinance.
"Chairman OGRA is advised to please restore powers of Member (Gas) immediately as decided in the meeting under intimation to the Cabinet Division," Sethi said. These directives continue to be ignored and Member Finance continues to play the role of Member Gas and remains engaged in illegal relocations of CNG stations, sources added.