Prime Minister (PM) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso on Monday approved transfers of federal secretaries and appointed Dr Shahid Amjad Chaudhry as the finance advisor and Dr Waqar Masood as federal finance secretary, moves that triggered dismay among the country’s top-most bureaucracy.
Posting orders of four federal secretaries were issued by the Establishment Division. Establishment Secretary Azmat Usman was transferred and posted as food security secretary while Ahmad Bakhsh Lehri, who was the food security secretary, has been appointed as establishment secretary. Likewise the Sindh chief secretary has been transferred and inducted as Board of Investment (BoI) secretary while Chaudhry Ejaz has been appointed as the Sindh chief secretary.
Establishment Division rejected the summary on transfer of the federal finance secretary arguing that at such a juncture, he cannot be changed as he had assumed his office only six days ago and would be heading a delegation within two days to hold talks with International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international donors from the United States (US).
The division was of the view that the decision’s timing runs contrary to transfer norms and is against national interest. The summary recommended replacement of incumbent finance secretary Nasir Khosa with Waqar Masood.
The Pakistani delegation led by finance secretary Nasir Khosa was scheduled to leave for US within a day or two to engage with IMF, World Bank and other multilateral donors in crucial parleys.
The country is facing a gruesome economic situation and the foreign exchange reserves are feared to deplete fast. Government is striving to get a deferral on repayment of foreign debt, an issue this delegation hoped to address in the critical dialogue process.
Sources said outgoing establishment secretary Azmat Usman returned the summary before his posting, saying the division cannot approve it given the current situation but if the premier wants to issue such orders, he can do so.
