ISLAMABAD: Ending a prolonged regulatory vacuum that had persisted for more than three years, the federal government has appointed Shahzad Iqbal as Member (Gas) of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) for a three-year term.
According to available copy of an official notification issued by the Cabinet Secretariat’s Establishment Division, the appointment has been made with the approval of the federal government under Section 3(8)(b) of the OGRA Ordinance, 2002, and will take effect from the date Shahzad Iqbal assumes charge. He has been appointed on a contract basis in MP-I (Scale–Median). The notification, dated January 5, 2026, will be published in the next issue of the Gazette of Pakistan (Part-I).
The position of Member (Gas) had remained vacant since November 20, 2022, following the completion of the tenure of Muhammad Arif, leading to significant regulatory delays within OGRA. During this period, the responsibilities of the gas regulator were temporarily handled by Member (Oil), Zain-ul-Abideen Qureshi, an arrangement widely viewed as sub-optimal for effective sector oversight.
Industry stakeholders have repeatedly raised concerns that the prolonged vacancy was hampering critical decisions on gas pricing, distribution, tariff determinations, and sector stability, with direct implications for consumers, utilities, and the broader energy market. The absence of a dedicated Member (Gas) also weakened OGRA’s ability to function as a full commission, as envisaged under the OGRA Ordinance.
Despite the Cabinet Division advertising the post multiple times and conducting shortlisting and interviews, the appointment process faced repeated delays. The process also became controversial after some shortlisted candidates were revealed to be senior officials from regulated entities such as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL). This triggered concerns about potential conflicts of interest and reinforcing calls for an independent and transparent regulatory appointment.
OGRA, Pakistan’s primary oil and gas regulator, plays a pivotal role in ensuring fair pricing, efficient distribution, consumer protection, and regulatory compliance in the downstream energy sector. The restoration of a full commission is expected to improve decision-making at a time when the gas sector is grappling with supply shortages, pricing reforms, unaccounted-for gas (UFG) losses, and mounting pressure on consumers.
Copies of the appointment notification have been forwarded to the President’s Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Division, AGPR, and the Press Information Department for information and necessary action.
The appointment of Shahzad Iqbal is widely seen as a long-overdue step toward strengthening OGRA’s regulatory capacity and restoring confidence in gas sector governance after years of institutional drift.
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