ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered an investigation into allegations of induction of more than 65 employees in the state-run Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in violation of rules.

The inquiry was ordered on a complaint of a candidate from Balochistan who reportedly secured 58th position in a written test conducted by the National Testing Service but was rejected because the second part of the examination process was bypassed.

According to sources, the OGDCL started the process of inducting trainees for the posts of assistant geophysicist, assistant geologist, assistant data acquisition engineer, assistant mud-logging engineer and assistant wireline engineer.

The candidates were shortlisted for interview after the test but suddenly the company ignored the results of interview and issued offer letters to the candidates only on the basis of NTS test results. This was a clear violation of instructions issued by the establishment division in January this year after the federal cabinet had lifted a ban on fresh recruitments, the sources said.

The instructions required all federal services, autonomous bodies and corporations, semi-autonomous bodies and companies to follow a set procedure.

The rules required that a centralised screening test was to be carried out by a testing agency hired by the federal administrative ministries in consultation with the establishment division. While considering suitability for particular jobs, objective tests were to be held through the testing agency with prior permission of the establishment division. The shortlisted candidates were to be called for interview after verification of academic and professional credentials.

The departmental selection committee was required to adjudge the appointment on the basis of 70 per cent weightage to screening test. The remaining 30pc was to be allocated on the basis of 40pc marks by the chairman of the committee and 30pc by two members each of the committee.

The marking of test and interview was required to be assessed by the departmental committee by giving 30pc weightage to relevant qualification and experience, 40pc to knowledge and skill relevance and 30pc to personality and interpersonal communication skills.

Informed sources told Dawn that an influential minister had instructed the OGDCL to set aside the requirement of interview and issue offer letters to candidates only on the basis of test results.

This led to induction of candidates who had obtained 52 to 82 marks in the test. In the process, some OGDCL officers are reported to have issued offer letters to their close relatives.

The complainant said many candidates had shown remarkable results in their academic career and experience and could have performed well in interview because of their relevant knowledge, but they were not considered because some intelligent candidates performed well in the NTS test. The combination of knowledge, test, academic record and experience were, therefore, necessary to select suitable candidates but the government policy was ignored.

The sources said the OGDCL was also required to induct one woman candidate from each province but only two were selected, one from Punjab and the other from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the recommendations of the company’s influential officers. The two other provinces and AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan were not given representation.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2015

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