HDIP runs for 2 years without permanent head, board also inactive

Islamabad: The Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan has operated for two years without a permanent head, and its Board of Directors is also inactive. This situation has raised serious questions in the Senate regarding the management of an institution responsible for fuel quality checks and research.

The Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum questioned how HDIP could properly carry out its administrative and research duties when it lacked both a permanent head and a fully functioning board.

Petroleum Division officials informed the committee that the division’s Special Secretary of the division had held the additional charge of HDIP for the past two years.

Chairman of the committee Senator Umar Farooq expressed concern over the long temporary arrangement and asked how much longer the institute would continue without a permanent chief.

Officials stated that the appointment process was now in its final stages and the new head would be appointed after approval by the Prime Minister.

The committee was also informed that HDIP conducts quality checks of imported fuel and primarily functions as a research institution.

The institute has an annual budget of Rs700 million and receives a government grant of Rs50 million. Officials also told the committee that HDIP generates Rs650 million through its testing services.

Despite these financial resources, the committee raised questions about the institute’s governance and administrative structure.

Officials reported that the HDIP Board of Directors is currently inactive, while appointments of private sector members are still pending.

Senator Umar Farooq asked who was serving on the board and questioned how the institute could function effectively with its board incomplete and its top position vacant for two years.

The committee also addressed the case of a female temporary employee whose regularisation remains unresolved.

Officials stated that the employee had applied to the HDIP Board of Directors but the board had not approved her case.

Senator Qurat ul Ain Marri reminded the committee that it had already recommended her regularisation. She stressed that women from Balochistan, where relatively few women are working, should be treated fairly.

Senator Jam Saifullah Khan questioned why the issue remained unresolved despite a court decision and the standing committee’s recommendation.

He warned that failure to implement the committee’s recommendation could result in the matter being sent to the Privileges Committee.

Senator Umar Farooq directed the Petroleum Division to ensure that the committee’s recommendation was implemented and stated the division should take action itself.

The committee called for progress on three major issues at HDIP: appointing a permanent head, completing the Board of Directors and resolving the employee’s regularisation case.

The committee also discussed gas supply to communities located near producing gas wells.

Senator Jam Saifullah Khan stated that people living in areas where oil and gas are discovered have a basic right to benefit from those natural resources.

He referred to the Prime Minister’s direction that gas should be provided within a five-kilometre radius of a gas well.

The committee stressed that the instruction should be implemented fully and called for clear policy guidelines from the Petroleum Ministry.

Petroleum Division officials said the required guidelines would be prepared within one month.

The committee also questioned the appointment of the Director General of the Department of Explosives.

Senator Umar Farooq asked what procedure was followed for the appointment and said a suitable person from within the department should have been considered instead of bringing someone from outside.

The committee ordered a detailed briefing at its next meeting on the educational qualifications of the Department of Explosives chief and the procedure used for the appointment.

The committee also discussed the powers of the committee in relation to an SNGPL matter.

Earlier in the meeting, Senator Qurat ul Ain Marri criticised the Petroleum Division for delays in providing documents requested by the committee, stating that timely information was necessary for effective parliamentary oversight.