ISLAMABAD: Ahead of formal launch of gas schemes, the government on Friday removed Petroleum Secretary Arshad Mirza and directed him to report to the establishment division.

Azad Jammu & Kashmir Chief Secretary Raja Jalal Sikandar Sultan, a close friend of prime minister’s secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad, has been transferred and posted as additional secretary in charge of the petroleum ministry.

This is the second major change in the energy sector after the removal of Water and Power Secretary Younas Dagha on March 31.

Informed sources said Mr Mirza had to face the ire of the prime minister for taking lightly a gas development scheme for Murree he had personally cleared three to four months ago. He was called on an urgent basis from Karachi early in the morning for an explanation and sent packing by the evening.

According to the sources, explanations were also sought from the managing director of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited and the director general gas, who said the approval of required funding for the Murree gas scheme had not reached them.

The sources said the prime minister was unhappy that a scheme cleared much earlier on his desire could be clubbed with now politicised schemes cleared after the removal of moratorium on gas connections recently that had been criticised by the media and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for being politically motivated.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2017