Under fire OGDC chief takes leave, acting MD appointed

Wednesday, January 06, 2010
By Aftab Maken

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has appointed new managing director and chief executive officer of Oil and Gas Development Company as the sitting boss of the company has applied for a seven-week leave, says an office order available with The News on Tuesday.

Shah Mehbub Aalam, Executive Director (Administration & Security), will act as MD/CEO of the company in the absence of Zahid Hussain during his period of leave, it added.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources was under immense pressure to remove the sitting MD, Zahid Hussain, for failing to achieve drilling and exploration targets of the company and for awarding some licences of exploration and installation equipment in violation of rules.

The ministry dropped its earlier proposal of appointing a three-member committee to look after the affairs of the company, an official of the ministry told The News.