ISLAMABAD: The Petroleum Division is allegedly facilitating two of the main accused persons behind the country’s sudden petrol crisis in June 2020, incumbent Director General (DG) Oil, Dr Shafi ur Rehman Afridi, and Inter-State Gas Systems (ISGS) Research Officer, Imran Ali Abro, instead of taking departmental action against them.
Afridi has been allowed to continue work on acting charge basis for the next 90 days whereas Abro, who was earlier withdrawn to the ISGS, has continuously been working with the Petroleum Division unofficially as well as attending meetings convened to review the demand, production and supply of the petroleum products in the country.
According to a notification released by the division, Dr Shafi ur Rehman Afridi has been assigned additional charge of the post of DG Oil with immediate effect, in addition to his own duties, for a period of 90 days or till the posting of a regular incumbent, whichever is earlier.
It is relevant to note that a five-member inquiry commission headed by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director General Abubakar Khudabaksh, formed in July 2020 to probe into the petrol crisis, had recommended strict action against Petroleum Division secretary, DG Oil, OGRA and private oil marketing companies (OMCs).
The report available had stated that oil marketing companies (OMCs) were primarily responsible for the shortage of the fuel that hit the country last year as they deliberately stopped supplying petroleum products to pumps despite having considerable stocks at their disposal.
It said the OMCs made from Rs6 to Rs8 billion during the June oil crisis by committing every illegality in “business as usual” manner. “The prices of MS [petrol] were substantially cut on May 31 and the new price was set at Rs74.52 per litre in view of lowering oil prices in the international market.
The report added that as the OMCs would incur a substantial inventory loss by free sale in June, they simply slowed down or dried out supplies, against all legal and moral norms. “Consequently, the shortage of MS began to surface across Pakistan and the filling stations gradually became dry, denying the public at large to reap the benefit of this substantial price cut.”
Interestingly, Dr Shafi-ur-Rehman Afridi, a veterinary physician by training, was appointed as the DG Oil. Dr Afridi had no previous experience of working in the oil sector and passed flagrantly illegal orders regarding the allocation of import and local quotas.
“This fact reflects gross violation on the part of MoEPD and its non-seriousness to attend to the issues and functioning of the office of the DG Oil that plays a pivotal role in the oil/petroleum industry of Pakistan,” the report highlighted.
According to sources who confided in Profit, Dr Afridi and Imran Ali Abro have been working in the Petroleum Division due to the blessings of an influential bureaucrat.
They said Imran Ali Abro, a contractual employee, had also worked with the Petroleum Division for the last six years against the rules. “Despite strong directions by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to end adhocism in the government, the Petroleum Division has decided to oblige blue-eyed officials,” sources said.
The inquiry commission’s report also revealed that scrutiny of the personal file of Imran Ali Abro during subject inquiry proceedings has revealed that the DG Oil had been writing to the concerned private company under MoEPD for his regularisation of service and extension in his contract period against the rules.
Reportedly, Imran Ali Abro is the kingpin in the Petroleum Division, calling the shots on behalf of his superiors, even though he is not an employee and works without legal cover.
