By SKM
October 5, 2025
ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s Office has stepped in to revise nominations for the Board of Directors of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) after intelligence agencies flagged potential conflicts of interest involving individuals closely linked to the sitting Federal Minister for Petroleum.
According to official sources, routine background checks conducted by intelligence agencies raised red flags over two nominees: Mr. Muhammad Ahmad Qayyum, a barrister-at-law and reportedly the first cousin of the Petroleum Minister, and Ms. Tayyaba Kamal Malik, who is believed to be well known to the Minister. Both individuals were not only recommended for the PPL board but had also been shortlisted for boards which are under constitution in other major state-owned energy firms, including Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).
The initial list of nominees had been finalized by the Board Nomination Committee (BNC) — a body chaired by the Petroleum Minister himself, and comprising the Secretary Petroleum, officials from the Finance Division, and the Chief Secretaries of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The formation of a new board became necessary following the expiry of the previous board’s term on September 13, 2025.
Upon receiving intelligence inputs highlighting the connections of the nominees, the Prime Minister’s Office directed the removal of both controversial names to maintain transparency and prevent the appearance of nepotism or undue influence.
In response to a question floated by this scribe, the Petroleum Minister confirmed that the names of Mr. Qayyum and Ms. Malik had been removed from the updated nomination list. He denied any familial ties with Ms. Malik, stating that she is not his sister, and referred to documents showing her name as being from an earlier, outdated version of the list.
However, nominations include several prominent names. Mr. Zafar Masud, President of the Bank of Punjab, has been nominated by the Petroleum Division as an independent director and prospective Chairman of the PPL Board, with Mr. Pir Saad Ahsanuddin and Mr. Arif Hameed nominated as his alternates.
The Finance Division has proposed Mr. Rahim Nasir as an independent director, with Ms. Shamim Bashir and Mr. Asif Inam named as alternates. Additionally, Ms. Shamam Tul Amber Arbab has been nominated by the Chief Secretary of Balochistan, with Ms. Afshseen Shakoor and Dr. Ayesha Waqar serving as her alternates.
Another independent director nominee is Ms. Najma Kamal Haider, whose alternates are Mr. Saqib Ahmed Saki and Mr. M. Sohail. Ends
