ISLAMABAD, Feb 10: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources has asked the management of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) to take concrete steps to improve its image.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship of MNA Dr Noor Jehan Panazai in the Parliament House here on Thursday, observed that the state of affairs in the company portrayed a hazy picture.

The committee members said various complaints had come into the notice of the committee which needed to be addressed properly.

The committee constituted a five-member sub-committee under the convenership of MNA Saima Akhtar Bharwana to look into the queries raised by different quarters regarding irregularities in appointments on huge perks, award of contracts to favourites and other issues. It also raised reservations about the salary package being offered to the PSO managing-director and called the chairman of PSO Board of Directors in its next meeting.

Earlier, the PSO managing-director briefed the committee about the performance of the company and its future business strategies. He said the PSO had successfully competed with three multi- nationals and other domestic private companies. It had also regained industry leadership in motor gasoline and maintained market leadership in diesel and gasoline, he added.

Besides, the managing-director said, the PSO obtained ISO- 9001:2000 certifications for its 12 depots/installations throughout the country. It had also been engaged in public service and spent millions of rupees on protection of environment, he added.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Makhdoomzada Basit Bokhari, Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood, Chaudhry Liaquat Abbas Bhatti, Rahila Yahya Munawar, Saima Akhtar Bharwana, Rubina Shaheen Wattoo, Haji Khuda Bux Nizamani, Pir Syed Fazal Shah Jeelani, Raja Pervez Ashar, Manzoor Hussain and Rana Mehmoodul Hassan.