ISLAMABAD: The federal government has amended the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) law through a presidential ordinance, paving the way for senior civil servants to temporarily head the country’s energy regulator.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 expands the legal definition of “Chairman” to include a civil servant assigned the additional charge of the office.
It also empowers the federal government to assign the additional charge of Ogra chairman to a BS-21 or above civil servant for up to three months, or until the appointment of a regular chairman, whichever comes first.
The officer must otherwise be eligible for the post and must not be serving in the Petroleum Division.
The amendment has come into force with immediate effect.The ordinance comes against the backdrop of the government’s decision to induct serving bureaucrats into Ogra on deputation. Two officers — one in BS-20 and the other in BS-18 —have been posted to the regulator.
The ordinance itself expressly limits the assignment of the additional charge of chairman to a BS-21 or above civil servant.
As things stand, neither of the two officials would qualify to hold the office under the amended law unless they are promoted or another legal arrangement is made.
The amendment was promulgated under Article 89 of the Constitution while Parliament was not in session.
The government has maintained that the change is intended to ensure continuity in Ogra’s functioning and prevent administrative disruption during vacancies in the chairman’s office.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari has given assent to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Amendment Ordinance 2026.
The president, on the advice of the prime minister, issued an ordinance related to the amendments to clause 2 and 3 of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2002.
