Govt appoints Shahzad Iqbal as OGRA Vice-Chairman

ISLAMABAD: The government has designated Shahzad Iqbal, Member (Gas), as Vice-Chairman of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) with effect from February 23, 2026, in a move seen as significant for the country’s energy regulatory landscape. The appointment was notified by the Cabinet Division under Section 3(13) of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2002 (No. XVII of 2002). The notification will be published in the next issue of the Gazette of Pakistan. Shahzad Iqbal, who has been serving as Member (Gas) at OGRA, will now assume the additional responsibility of Vice-Chairman at a time when the authority is dealing with key regulatory matters, including gas pricing, supply management and oversight of transmission and distribution companies. As Member (Gas), he has been involved in regulatory oversight of the natural gas sector, including tariff determinations, compliance monitoring and coordination with stakeholders in the upstream and downstream segments. His elevation to Vice-Chairman places him in a key position within the authority’s decision-making structure. The notification further states that, upon the appointment of the Chairman of OGRA, he will cease to hold the office of Vice-Chairman in line with statutory provisions governing the authority’s composition. Copies of the notification have been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Establishment Division and the Petroleum Division, among other relevant offices. OGRA, the country’s oil and gas regulator, determines consumer gas tariffs, regulates LNG operations, oversees oil marketing companies and monitors compliance across Pakistan’s petroleum supply chain. The designation of a Vice-Chairman from within the authority is expected to ensure continuity in regulatory decision-making.