Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) has decided to take disciplinary action against one of its employees for accusing Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) of responsible for deaths in LPG and CNG sector. A letter written by Director General HDIP Muhammad Shafeeq to OGRA states, "Asim Riaz, Senior Research Engineer has written a letter in his private capacity.

However, by writing such letter, he has violated official channel of communication, office discipline, general good order and service conduct. Necessary disciplinary action is in hand for his irresponsible attitude and wilful misconduct." Asim Riaz had written a letter to OGRA chairperson in which he stated that OGRA's incompetence is partly responsible for deaths in CNG and LPG sectors.

The letter had said that corroded petrol tanks and improvised petrol fuel system were results of OGRA policies in CNG sector which resulted in deaths of hundreds of people. He said that the HDIP pointed out the matter in many reports but OGRA turned a deaf ear to it. "Petrol tanks of most of the public service vans were rusted as drivers run the vehicle only on CNG due to price differential; the drivers are forced to run the vehicle on petrol on one or two days a week," the letter reads.

On April 2017, the DG HDIP stated in his letter to OGRA that the technical issues raised by Asim are not related to this institute. It is also clarified that HDIP under its Act 2006 has not been authorised either to perform such functions to regulate issues highlighted in a private letter written by Asim.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017