ISLAMABAD: In a strange sequence of events, Chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) suspended official operations and took along entire OGRA staff for a weekend joy trip on a working day.
This all happened while the country is battling devastation caused by worst floods of its history while the world is not ready to commit much help to flood affectees. Amid high inflation and unprecedented power and petroleum prices, the OGRA chief went on joy trip and directed his staff to inform anybody asking that OGRA staff was on a team building session in Murree at the cost of tax-payers money.
As per details, OGRA chairman Masroor Khan without getting prior approval from the Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif or from the Secretary Cabinet Division on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. took all officials and staff of OGRA to Murree for recreation/get together and suspended all official work of oil and gas sector regulator on a working day.
Upon contacting, OGRA chairman confirmed that he along with his team was visiting Murree. However, the Chairman preferred not to answer questions raised by this correspondent regarding this OGRA team’s trip to Murree on a working day without prior approval of the PM and Cabinet division.
Later, a spokesman of OGRA told Pakistan Today that such activities are planned to “enhance efficiency and productivity of the team members as a strategic team-building plan”.
Terming the trip as one among healthy initiatives, OGRA official said the budget of this activity is negligible which is already budgeted. And, when asked if OGRA obtained prior approval from the premier or Secretary Cabinet Division for arranging this trip to Murree suspending the official work on a working day, the spokesperson said OGRA is an independent regulator.
According to sources, the OGRA team was dressed up in sports/casual outfit during this get together in Murree. The officials reached the tourist resort at 11:00 a.m. and started walking from Ayubia to Donga Gali’s 3.5 kilometer scenic track.
The OGRA team enjoyed lunch at 12p.m. in Donga Gali and took group photos. The OGRA team arrived back to OGRA office at 5p.m., said the sources.
Though the country’s oil and gas sector is showing poor performance and it has been experiencing a severe energy crisis, the oil and gas regulator has become a platform of entertainment, sources added.
In a later night rejoinder, OGRA clarification said that it is continuing its tradition of contributing to good causes.
“OGRA is contributing to the PM’s flood relief fund and sent a consignment of necessities for the people affected by this calamity. The first shipment was sent to Rajanpur. Few more consignments will be dispatched to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the statement said.
“OGRA also has a tradition of arranging WALK FOR A CAUSE events. On 5th February, OGRA had arranged a walk to express solidarity with Kashmiris.The OGRA team has also arranged a pipeline walk today,” the statement said.
It is pertinent to mention that Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) was established by the Federal Government on March 28, 2002and the objective of OGRA is to “foster competition, increase private investment and ownership in the midstream and downstream petroleum industry, protect the public interest while respecting individual rights and provide effective and efficient regulations”. However, it has so far remained far away from meeting its objectives miserably.
Secretary cabinet division was contacted to get his stance but he did not respond despite repeated attempts.
