ISLAMABAD, September 28, 2026: Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC) has inducted 52 female graduates into the second batch of its all-female Management Trainee Officers (MTOs) Programme 2026-27, expanding opportunities for women seeking professional careers in Pakistan’s oil and gas industry.
The new trainees, selected from different academic backgrounds and educational institutions across Pakistan, will undergo a year-long training programme covering technical skills, field operations and professional development.
A welcoming ceremony was held at the Oil and Gas Training Institute (OGTI), where OGDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Hayat Lak formally welcomed the trainees.
Addressing the ceremony, Lak said the initiative was part of the company’s efforts to increase female representation and create a more inclusive workplace.
“We want more women in our company to make our work environment more diverse and inclusive,” he said.
The programme forms part of OGDC’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, aimed at encouraging greater participation of women in the energy sector.
OGDC targets doubling oil and gas production in three years
Speaking about the company’s operational priorities, Lak said OGDC was working towards a target of doubling its production over the next three years.
“We have a target to double our production in the next three years,” he said.
The OGDC chief said the company would continue efforts to optimise production from its mature oil and gas assets while supporting Pakistan’s energy security and reducing dependence on imported energy.
He expressed confidence that the newly inducted management trainees would contribute to the company’s growth while acquiring the skills needed to work in the energy industry.
Female trainees to receive 52 weeks of professional training
Under the 52-week programme, the management trainees will participate in classroom learning, on-the-job training, field visits, departmental placements and mentorship activities.
The training is designed to provide participants with an understanding of OGDC’s operations, the oil and gas value chain and the technical and organisational challenges facing the industry.
The programme will also include technical instruction and soft-skills development to prepare participants for professional responsibilities.
OGDC Executive Director (Human Resources) Shahzad Safdar said the second batch’s training structure had been developed after reviewing the experience of the company’s first all-female trainee programme.
“This is a different and more comprehensive training programme. We wanted to develop a programme that would fully prepare MTOs for their professional careers,” he said.
Safdar said the company had taken a deliberate approach towards improving female representation in its workforce.
“We chose to move beyond our comfort zone and establish a dedicated all-female management training programme,” he added.
Second batch follows induction of 36 women in 2025
OGDC launched its first all-female management trainee programme in July 2025, inducting 36 graduates.
Members of the inaugural batch also attended the welcoming ceremony and shared their experiences of working and training within the oil and gas industry.
They appreciated the opportunity to gain practical exposure to different aspects of the company’s operations.
With the induction of the latest batch, OGDC has brought 88 female graduates into its dedicated management trainee programmes across the two intakes.
The company said the initiative was intended to develop a pipeline of skilled female professionals capable of contributing to its long-term operations and Pakistan’s energy sector.
The newly inducted trainees will receive structured technical and professional development throughout the programme, supported by OGDC’s technical and soft-skills training teams.