The caretaker government may consider appointing Sohail Wajahat Siddiqui, Chair-man Board of Management (CBM) of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) as the caretaker Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources. Siddiqui, a prominent name in Pakistan's corporate sector, is currently chairman of PSO's Board of Management.
He was appointed as CBM PSO on the recommendation of Dr Asim Hussain, former Advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources. His name is also included in the list of Pakistan Steel Mills' (PSM) Board of Directors (BoD). A senior Petroleum Ministry official told Business Recorder on Monday there were strong rumours that Siddiqui might be appointed as the caretaker Petroleum Minister. But he hastened to add that at this stage these were nothing more than mere speculation.
The next caretaker Petroleum Minister would face serious issues including arranging over Rs 125 billion to enable PSO to pay for the letter of credit to international fuel suppliers like Kuwait Petroleum Company as well as to arrange furnace oil for power sector, as with the start of summer power shortfall will increase. Siddiqui is serving as Member on the Board of Pakistan Business Council (PBC), and is also on the Board of NUST, LUMS, IBA, Dawood College of Engineering & Technology, Hamdard University, KASBIT, Dadabhoy Institute, IoBM, Habib University Foundation, Nazeer Hussain University, AIESEC and the YPO/WPO organisation.
He has served as President Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICC&I) and President Management Association of Pakistan (MAP). He also served as Board Member ROUSCH Pakistan, VP - PDF, PGBF, Pakistan Steel, KPT, Karachi Shipyard & Works, Atlas Engineering, KW&SB for Desalination Plant, NESPAK, HEC, PIPRO, TUSDEC, Provincial Disaster Management (PDMA), Provincial Committee Investment (PCOI), BOI, PFC, Member CM Inspection Enquiries & Implementation Team Sindh and KASB Bank. He was also chairman of Think Tank on Integrated Energy Sustainability, Member Central Power Purchasing Agency (CCP), Board Member of EPZA, TDAP, Planning Commission (PC), CPLC, STEVTA, EDB, The Legend's Trust and PEC.