ISLAMABAD: The Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Zahid Mir, has resigned from his post.

The OGDCL Board of Directors has accepted the resignation of Mr Mir and appointed Dr Naseem Ahmed acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, a spokesman for the company said here.

The Board of Directors appreciated the contribution made by Mr Mir in implementing a long-term sustainability framework for the company, besides achieving strict financial controls and discipline.

The directors expressed their best wishes for future endeavours of Mr Mir, the spokesman said.

Some sources attributed the MD’s resignation to the ongoing National Accountability Bureau (NAB) probe against the chief of OGDCL in a couple of cases. NAB has also placed his name on the Exit Control List (ECL). He was appointed COO by the previous PML-N government which also handed over to him the acting charge of MD/CEO of the company.

Mr Mir had worked as the acting MD for more than four years. “His resignation is due to his future personal engagements and it has no connection with any probe,” an official said.

His performance was outstanding as an acting MD and he worked on several fronts, including HR reforms, financial reforms, ban on unionists, and adding more oil, gas and LPG to the system, the official said.

Mr Mir will relinquish the charge on July 31 after having served the company for over four years as MD/CEO, the spokesman said.

Dr Naseem Ahmad, who is presently serving as Executive Director (Production), would assume duties of the office of MD/CEO on an acting charge basis, the spokesman said.

Dr Naseem Ahmad holds a PhD in Petroleum Engineering from Imperial College, University of London, and has served OGDCL for over 32 years, according to the spokesman.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2019