Karachi, April 18 (IANS) The goverment has decided to revamp the top managements at state-run oil and gas companies and "candidates for the top posts at these companies will be selected from abroad", said a senator.

"We need reputable people to head companies like the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Pakistan State Oil (PSO)," The News International Monday quoted Senator Asim Hussain as saying.

"Candidates for the top posts at these companies will be selected from abroad," he said after meeting Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Asim Hussain, an aide of President Asif Ali Zardari, became a Senator Saturday. He had resigned as the petroleum adviser in 2009, citing personal reasons.

He said drastic measures were required since the energy crisis had blown out of proportion.

"We need to inject fresh blood into these organisations. Independent boards of directors are important for pushing forward hard decisions," he was quoted as saying.

He said there may be pressure to stall the move to overhaul the oil firm managements, but he hoped the transformation will go through.

The senator said that the move to revamp the energy firms might not be limited to the oil and gas companies.

"Prime minister can also support similar changes in power distribution companies."