ISLAMABAD: The federal government has transferred Secretary Petroleum Division Momin Agha and directed him to report to the Establishment Division with immediate effect.
Following his transfer, Nasir-ud-Din Mashood Ahmed, a BS-22 officer of the Secretariat Group currently serving as Special Secretary in the Petroleum Division, has been assigned the look-after charge of Secretary Petroleum Division in addition to his own duties, until the posting of a regular incumbent, according to a notification issued on January 8.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has appointed Nasir-ud-Din Ahmed as its new ex-officio director, replacing Imran Ahmed, Director General (Oil) at the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division).
Sources said Agha was transferred while he was in the UAE attending a board meeting of Pak-Arab Refinery Company Limited (Parco). There have been reports suggesting tensions between Agha and Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik over certain matters; however, no official confirmation has been issued in this regard.
When contacted, Agha said he had already served a considerable tenure as secretary Petroleum and emphasised that postings and transfers were the prerogative of the government. “Such transfers are a routine administrative matter in public service,” he remarked.
Petroleum Minister Malik declined to comment on the development and did not respond to a query sent by this correspondent seeking clarification on the reasons behind the transfer. Sources close to him, however, deny any tension in the ministry’s top offices.
Despite his transfer, sources said Momin Agha enjoyed the confidence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and there were indications that he may be accommodated in another important position in the near future.
