Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has replaced Saeedullah Shah, Director General (DG) Gas, with Dr Shahab Alam due to his unsatisfactory performance in drafting gas policy, sources told Business Recorder. Dr Shahab Alam will take charge as new DG Gas with immediate effect. The newly appointed DG Gas was serving as DG Admin in Petroleum Ministry.
A senior official of Petroleum Ministry when contacted said, "He don''t not know why DG Gas was removed. As far as Petroleum/Gas Policy 2011is concerned no one is responsible for the delay in its approval." He said that after the passage of 18th amendment, provinces claimed that they had ownership of 50 percent rights on oil and gas exploration and therefore they were empowered to regulate upstream industry. "However, upstream industry wanted one window facility for regulations to resolve their issues after implementation of 18th amendment and ministry is trying to resolve the issue amicably," he added.
After 18th Amendment, the federation has shifted the responsibility to the provinces, but there are multiple issues, which are yet to be resolved between the federal and provincial governments. The government would announce $6 per Million Cubic Feet (MMBTU) as wellhead price in new policy 2011 against $4.5 per MMBTU in petroleum policy 2009.The maximum gas price for offshore wells would be $9 per MMBTU.