Tariq Kirmani Resigns As Pakistan Refinery Chairman On Health Grounds
Listen2 min
Read aloud by your device’s built-in synthetic voice, not a recording. Needs a browser that can read aloud.
✧ GENERATE BRIEFING
Veteran corporate executive Tariq Kirmani has stepped down as Chairman and Independent Director of Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) on health grounds, effective October 9, 2026. In a regulatory disclosure sent to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday, PRL confirmed Kirmani's departure from both board positions, noting that a successor to the chairmanship has not yet been named. Kirmani brings over five decades of high-level management experience across Pakistan's public and private corporate landscape: Energy Sector Leadership: Began his career with Caltex (now Chevron Pakistan) in 1969, becoming the first Pakistani elected to its board of directors in 1991. He subsequently served as Managing Director and CEO of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) starting in 2001. Aviation & Public Sector: Appointed Chairman and CEO of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in 2005, serving a two-year tenure, alongside board directorships at UBL, NBP, PTCL, LUMS, and Pak-Arab Pipeline Company.
Tariq Kirmani has resigned as chairman and independent director of Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) on health grounds, effective October 9, 2026, the company informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday.
In its regulatory filing, PRL confirmed that Kirmani had stepped down from both positions on the company’s board. The announcement did not name a successor to the outgoing chairman.
A Five-Decade Corporate Legacy
Kirmani brings more than five decades of experience in Pakistan’s corporate sector, including senior management and board positions at major public- and private-sector organisations.
He began his career with Caltex, now Chevron Pakistan, in 1969, working in senior management roles in the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Australia. His responsibilities included marketing, operations and finance. In 1991, he became the first Pakistani to be elected as a director of the company.
In 1999, Kirmani joined Pakistan State Oil (PSO) as deputy managing director and was appointed managing director and chief executive officer in 2001. He later became chairman and CEO of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in 2005, serving in the role for two years.
During his career, Kirmani also served on the boards of several organisations, including United Bank Limited, National Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, Lahore University of Management Sciences and Pak-Arab Pipeline Company.
Modernisation Initiatives at PRL
PRL, a subsidiary of PSO, operates a refinery at Korangi Creek, Karachi, with a crude oil processing capacity of approximately 50,000 barrels per day. The company is pursuing a refinery expansion and upgrade project intended to increase capacity and enable the production of cleaner fuels.
Kirmani’s resignation comes as Pakistan’s refining sector moves forward with major modernisation plans under the government’s refinery upgrade policy. PRL has not yet announced who will replace him as chairman.
