KARACHI: Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSO) has announced the appointment of Jawwad Ahmed Cheema as its new Chief Executive Officer for a three-year term, effective May 18, 2026. He will succeed interim CEO Abdus Sami.
The decision was approved by PSO’s Board of Management during its meeting on April 11, 2026, according to a notice submitted to the stock exchange.
The leadership transition comes shortly after Syed Taha, former Managing Director and CEO of PSO, was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of K-Electric.
Jawwad Cheema brings over 28 years of experience in the downstream energy sector, including nearly two decades in senior corporate leadership roles across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and South Asia. His expertise spans the entire downstream value chain, including retail fuels, lubricants, storage infrastructure, supply chain management, and strategic planning.
He spent 26 years with Royal Dutch Shell, rising from frontline retail operations in Pakistan to senior global leadership roles across Indonesia, Singapore, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
During his tenure as CEO of Shell Pakistan Limited, Cheema led the company through a period of significant strategic and operational transformation in a challenging market environment.
Most recently, he served as CEO of Karachi Hydrocarbon Terminal under the portfolio of VTTI B.V., where he managed one of Pakistan’s key petroleum import and distribution terminals at Port Qasim.
In addition to his executive roles, Cheema has held key governance positions, including Chairman of Shell Pakistan Limited and board memberships at Pakistan Refinery Limited and Pakistan Arab Pipeline Company, contributing to oversight of critical components of Pakistan’s downstream energy infrastructure.
PSO stated that Cheema’s extensive international experience, strategic leadership, and proven track record in managing complex energy operations position him well to lead the company through its next phase of growth and transformation.
