ISLAMABAD - As the sale of OGDCL is on the cards, its management has banned entry of journalists in its office premises to ensure no negative news is leaked which could harm reputation of the company in the coming auction.
Government is reportedly planning to auction government shares of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) within two months. According to sources, this move was an attempt to ensure that no negative news about the internal affairs of the company get out.
It was learnt that the private security company looking after the security of OGDCL building in Blue Area has been directed by the management to discourage visitors and make sure no journalist enters the building.
The OGDCL has occupied the service road in front of the building and has placed barriers on both sides of the road leading to its office. Sources in private security agent told The Nation that management has ordered for not allowing journalists even cross these barriers.
It was learnt that this measure was taken after the news appeared in media that OGDCL top management gave 72 vehicles at throw away price to its managerial staff. During the Public Accounts Committee sub-committee proceedings last month, the committee reprimanded OGDCL on giving government vehicles to its officers at price much lower than the market price.
During the proceedings, it was disclosed that a Suzuki Cultus 1000 CC car with book value of Rs0.7 million was sold to an employee for just Rs1,000. In another similar case, a car worth Rs1.3 million was transferred in the name of the company’s employee against Rs136,000 only.
It was also learnt that the top officials also benefited from this ‘gracious’ sale of cars.
During the proceedings, the committee rejected plea of MD that the vehicles had been disposed of to its employees as per the policy of the company, and it ordered oil company management to submit a detailed reply in this regard.
It was learnt that after the publishing of the news, OGDCL top management banned entry of journalists in the premises. However, it was learnt that some blue-eyed journalists were given restricted entry permission. It is worth mentioning that no other public office denies entry to journalists in the capital.
OGDCL management termed this ban as usual security measure. “This is visitor policy, in practice to check influx of vendors, I will however, talk to the management to have some facilitation for the journalists,” OGDCL spokesperson Ahmed Hayat Luk told The Nation over telephone.