Press Release Title: Senator Umer Farooq, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum, presiding over a meeting of the committee at Parliament House Islamaba

Press Release Date: 1st September, 2026

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum was held under the Chairmanship of Senator Umar Farooq, where the committee reviewed key administrative and institutional matters concerning the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP), including the appointment of its head, the status of its Board of Directors, budgetary affairs and the regularisation of employees.   During the meeting, Senator Qurat-ul-Ain Marri expressed concern over delays by the Petroleum Division in providing relevant documents to the committee. She said the failure to provide the required papers to the committee on time reflected the incompetence of the Petroleum Ministry and stressed that relevant documents should be furnished in a timely manner to enable the committee to perform its oversight responsibilities effectively. The committee then took up the issue of the leadership of the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan. Chairman Committee Senator Umar Farooq asked officials since when the institute had been without a permanent head. Officials of the Petroleum Division informed the committee that the additional charge of the institute had been held by the Special Secretary of the Petroleum Division on a temporary basis for the past two years. Expressing concern over the prolonged interim arrangement, Senator Umar Farooq asked how much longer the institution would continue to function in this manner. Officials informed the committee that the process for appointing the head of the institute was in its final stages and that the appointment would be made after approval by the Prime Minister. Officials further informed the committee that HDIP carries out quality checks of imported fuel and is primarily a research institution. The committee was told that the institute has an annual budget of Rs700 million, while the government also provides it with a grant of Rs50 million, as they generate 650 ml through testing services. Furthermore, the committee directed the OGDCL, in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court as well as the Prime Minister’s Office, to provide gas within 5 kilometres of the gas well and ensure its implementation. The committee was also briefed on the employment structure at the institute. Officials said that some employees were regular while others were working on a contractual basis. They informed the committee that some temporary employees had approached the courts and subsequently secured regular employment through judicial proceedings. Taking up the case of a female temporary employee, Chairman Committee Senator Umar Farooq pointed out that one female temporary employee had not approached the court and questioned why she had not been regularised. Officials explained that the woman employee had submitted an application to the institute’s Board of Directors, but the board had not decided in her favour. Senator Umar Farooq also sought details about the composition of the Board of Directors and asked who its members were. Officials informed the committee that the board was currently inactive and that the appointment of members from the private sector was still pending. Expressing concern over the institutional governance of HDIP, Senator Umar Farooq observed that the institute had been without a head for two years and that its board was also incomplete. He questioned how the institution could effectively perform its administrative and research functions under such circumstances. On the issue of the regularisation of the female officer, Senator Qurat-ul-Ain Marri said that the committee had already recommended that the woman officer be regularised. She stressed the need to ensure justice for women from Balochistan, saying that very few women from the province were working and that they should be treated fairly. Senator Jam Saifullah Khan took a firm position on the matter, asking why the issue had still not been resolved if a court had already given a decision and the standing committee had also made a recommendation. He warned that if the committee’s recommendation was not implemented, the matter would be referred to the Privileges Committee. Chairman Committee Senator Umar Farooq directed the Petroleum Division to ensure implementation of the committee’s recommendation and said the Petroleum Division should itself take action on the matter. The committee stressed the need for progress on the appointment of the institute’s head, completion of its Board of Directors and resolution of the female officer’s regularisation case. Senator Jam Saifullah Khan also emphasised that oil and gas exploration companies should play their role in the development of areas where successful discoveries are made. He said that development of the discovery areas is the fundamental right of the local people and that the benefits of natural resources should reach the communities living in those areas. Senator Jam Saifullah Khan further stated that the Prime Minister has issued clear instructions that gas should be provided within a radius of 5 kilometres of the gas well. He stressed that the instructions must be implemented in letter and spirit and called upon the Ministry of Petroleum to issue clear policy guidelines in this regard at the earliest. Officials of the Petroleum Division informed the committee that the required guidelines would be prepared within one month. The committee also raised questions regarding the appointment of the Director General of the Department of Explosives. Chairman Committee Senator Umar Farooq questioned under what procedure the DG Department of Explosives had been appointed. He observed that instead of bringing a person from outside the department, a suitable person from within the department should have been considered for the position. The Chairman Committee directed that a detailed briefing be given in the next meeting regarding the educational qualifications of the head of the Department of Explosives and the procedure followed for his appointment. The committee sought complete details to ensure transparency and merit in the appointment process. The matter of SNGPL was also discussed, with questions raised regarding the powers of the committee to decide any matter.