PM rejects proposed names for economic ministers abroad

• Asks finance division to carry out selection process again according to criteria

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqani Abbasi on Wednesday rejected the names of candidates proposed by the finance ministry, to be posted as economic ministers abroad, due to nullifying the differentiating criteria during the shortlisting of the candidates, it was learnt reliably.

Sources told Pakistan Today that the prime minister was not pleased over the proposals of the finance ministry and directed to initiate the selection process afresh, strictly in accordance with the guidelines of foreign appointments.

The PM has also withdrawn the exemption granted to finance division for the prescribed procedure for appointment of economic ministers.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Establishment Division had issued comprehensive guidelines for posting of officers, other than officers of Foreign Service, in Pakistan’s missions abroad in 2016. However, the finance division obtained exemption from the stipulated process on the pretext that the posts of economic ministries were highly specialised and technical and needed a different dispensation.

According to information available with Pakistan Today, the economic minister’s seats had fallen vacant two years ago after the expiry of the tenure of Washington, Tokyo, Beijing and London ministers, but despite having been granted the exemption, the finance division had failed to fill in these posts even after the lapse of two years.

According to officials, the finance division initiated the process of apportionment of economic ministers in the last week of March this year and subsequently shortlisted some eight candidates.

The division on Monday forwarded the names of Secretary to Punjab CM Imdad Ali Bosal, Principal Secretary to Sindh CM Sohail Rajput, Joint Secretary to PM Shakil Shah, Special Assistant to Finance Minister Qamar Sarwar Abbasi, Saira Najeeb Ahmad – who served with former finance minister Ishaq Dar, Punjab Finance Secretary Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh, Punjab Planning Secretary Iftikhar Sahoo, Shakeel Magnejo and Chief Executive Officer of National Power Parks Management Company Limited Rashid Langrial to the prime minister for approval.

Moreover, the prime minister’s office approved a set of specific, objective and differentiating criteria for the shortcomings and interview of candidates for these positions.

Nonetheless, the shortlisting carried out by the finance division appears to have nullified the differentiating criteria. For instance, the candidates with a degree in accounting and financial laws – which have little relevance to the position of an economic minister – were given the same marks as were awarded to candidates having degrees in relevant fields like economic development or international finance.

Furthermore, the interview marks awarded to certain candidates were disproportionately higher or lower than their shortlisting marks and the delay in the selection process and its finalization in the very last days of the government does not appear to be appropriate.

PM Abbasi has also directed to conduct fresh tests at Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore or the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi.

“The qualifying test shall be conducted through an institution of the highest repute and standing, such as the Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore or the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, and the finance division shall take further necessary action accordingly.”

It is pertinent to mention here that the posts of economic ministers at the embassies are very critical for ensuring Pakistan’s economic interests in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and China.