The mystery shrouding the resignation of SBP governor Shahid Kardar was finally resolved on Monday when the government notified the acceptance of his resignation and appointment of Deputy Governor Yasin Anwar as acting governor of the central bank.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s House said the PM had accepted Kardar’s resignation and appointed the senior most deputy governor, Yasin Anwar acting governor with immediate effect. In a letter addressed to the PM on July 15, the governor tendered his resignation saying, “I hereby resign from the position… I am grateful for the privilege and great honour bestowed upon me to serve the country,” the statement said.
According to an official source, Kardar had resigned after differences with the government on key economic issues. He said his first resignation contained harsh language and he was asked to resubmit a simple resignation. He had earlier assumed charge of governor on September 9, 2010.
The previous governor, Saleem Raza, had also resigned from the post citing personal reasons.
The source said the government was considering former National Bank of Pakistan president Ali Raza and incumbent Finance Secretary Waqar Masud for the post. However, he said the chances of the acting governor to be made permanent were more likely.
He said the presidential camp wanted a man of strong nerves who could withstand slippages due to increased borrowing from the central bank and commercial banks during the period before the election. And secondly, they wanted to avoid embarrassment caused by another resignation.
Another shake-up: Meanwhile, in another shake-up in the economic team of the government, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Salman Siddique is likely to be appointed Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) in place of Tanveer Ali Agha, whose four-year term expires today (Tuesday). Siddique is also to reach the age of superannuation in the near future.
Commerce Secretary Zafar Mehmood is likely to be appointed FBR chairman.
A source told Pakistan Today that the government had taken this decision and a notification in this regard would be issued soon.
“The summary to appoint the FBR chairman AGP and Zafar Mehmood in his place has been approved by the prime minister,” the source said.
However, Siqqique denied the report saying the post of the AGP was constitutional and a serving person could not be appointed against it.
