Summary Government appoints Nabeel Awan as interim OGRA chairman, replacing Shahzad Iqbal amid criticism over oil supply management and pricing issues.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - The government has removed the acting chairman of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority amid ongoing oil supply challenges and pricing concerns, appointing a senior bureaucrat on an interim basis.
According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, Nabeel Ahmed Awan, a BS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, has been given additional charge as OGRA chairman with immediate effect for three months or until a permanent appointment is made.
The outgoing acting chairman Shahzad Iqbal will continue to serve as Member Gas. He had faced criticism during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Oil Products Monitoring for slow progress on automation and integration of the petroleum supply chain, as well as for failing to adequately explain pricing concerns.
Officials noted that the regulator has been functioning on an ad hoc basis for over a year, with delays in appointing a permanent chairman. Earlier, the tenure of former chairman Masroor Khan had been extended without formal legal cover.
The situation drew further scrutiny during a high-level meeting involving the Ministry of Finance and key stakeholders, including Pakistan State Oil, where both OGRA and PSO were criticized for slow progress in digital integration of stock and supply systems.
Authorities expressed concern that gaps in monitoring and delays in automation allowed market manipulation and hoarding amid rising fuel prices. Law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Investigation Agency, are now being engaged to improve oversight of petroleum outlets.
During the review, officials were informed that the overall fuel supply remains stable, with diesel stocks covering around 25 days, petrol meeting current demand, and crude oil reserves sufficient for approximately 12 days, supported by scheduled imports.
The decision to reshuffle OGRA leadership was approved after briefing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the situation, as the government seeks to tighten regulation and restore confidence in the petroleum sector.
