Elengy Terminal Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaikh Imranul Haque has assured the Ministry of Petroleum of him joining Pakistan State Oil (PSO) as the new managing director (MD) from September 1, sources in the ministry said Thursday.
“Imranul Haque will join PSO as new head of the largest petroleum supplier company,” an official in Petroleum Ministry said. He said that Haque had assured to join the company from September 1.
According to PSO officials, Haque’s notification was issued in May 2015, but he was not ready to join the organisation on the government’s terms and conditions. Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had been negotiating with him for last few months and now he is ready to join the PSO as its head, the source said.
PSO MD Shahid Islam was appointed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in January this year after the emergence of fuel crisis which specifically hit Punjab. His tenure expired on April 30. Later, the government gave him the acting charge due to Haque’s “non-interest” on this position. About two months ago, Yaqoob Sattar was given acting charge who was currently heading PSO.
Haque is currently heading Engro’s subsidiary Elengy Terminal Pakistan, which was given contract of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal.
After awarding the LNG contract to Elengy, National Accountability (NAB) had initiated an enquiry against it. The NAB officials had also sought complete record of tendering, evaluation and LNG Service Agreement (LSA) from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). Haque is also under investigation.
According to the source, the main objective of Haque’s appointment was to control LNG import of PSO, as the company is planning to import more LNG for the country. Haque has a vast experience in this field.
Haque comes from a private company, which has its direct links with PSO. Therefore, his appointment had also sparked controversy about the decision of the government to appoint him as new head from a private company, Engro’s subsidiary Elengy Terminal Pakistan Limited, which had set up LNG terminal in March this year. Its purpose is only to operate the terminal whereas the government has designated PSO to arrange LNG shipments, which is a multi-million-dollar program.
Despite repeated attempts, Haque was not available for comments.
