SNGPL board to propose 5 fresh names for MD’s appointment

ISLAMABAD: The Board of Directors (BoD) of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), in its upcoming meeting to be held on March 26, is likely to forward five suitable names to Prime Minister Imran Khan for consideration to fill the top slot, Pakistan Today has learnt.

According to sources, the BoD is likely to take the decision to remove the acting managing director of SNGPL. Five fresh names will be proposed to the premier from the list of already shortlisted 15 candidates.

Sources further said the PM Office had earlier rejected the BoD’s summary about regular appointment of incumbent acting SNGPL MD Amer Tufail.

They further said the PM had declared that acting MD Amer Tufail or deputy MD Sohail Gulzar were not eligible to become head of the gas utility due to their adverse reports and ordered to remove them from their portfolios.

Sources said though the Petroleum Division has kept mum over the matter for a month despite the PM’s orders, it has now asked the SNGPL’s board to suggest fresh five names for the top position. Private members of the SNGPL’s board are resisting the PM’s decision to remove the acting SNGPL MD, sources added.

Officers on acting charge basis have been running the company’s affairs for the last one year or so. SNGPL’s board had earlier proposed names to PMO for the appointment of MD SNGPL on 1st January this year. However, PMO returned the summary to the Petroleum Division with observations of low-down reports of proposed candidates Amer Tufail and Sohail Gulzar had reflected negative remarks.

PMO observed that Rule 5 (2) of the Public Sector Companies (Corporate Governance) Rules, 2013 provides that the board shall recommend a panel of three officers to the federal government /cabinet for the appointment of any of them as the Chief Executive Officer /Managing Director. Since the candidates have been found unsuitable owing to their adverse low-downs, the proposed panel has fallen short of the three requisite officers.

Similarly, a list of senior management officers of SNGPL was obtained for assigning the additional charge to any suitable senior officer other than Amer Tufail and Sohail Gulzar.

As per the list of senior management officers (Grade IX and above), Senior General Manager (SGM) Muhammad Aslam was to retire on 29th February, 2020, SGM Human Resources Azam Khan Wazir was to retire on 31st January, 2025, while Chief Financial Officer Faisal Iqbal was to retire from his position on 23rd February, 2031.

It is also learnt from sources that in view of the above scenario and in the light of observation raised by PMO, the case regarding the appointment of the SNGPL MD was referred to the Board of Directors (BoD) of SNGPL with the directions to propose the names of at least five candidates excluding Amer Tufail and Sohail Gulzar for onward submission to PMO and the Cabinet Division.

The SNGPL’s board, its meeting on March 26, would take appropriate action as per service rules of the company against Amer Tufail and Sohail Gulzar, following the stock of comments made by PMO, sources said, adding the board would also propose the name of suitable candidate for the acting charge of the SNGPL MD.