Ministers survive first performance review

–PM Imran evaluates ministers’ performance on basis of austerity drive, new projects, future road-map

–Nine-hour-long special meeting reviews report card of 26 ministries, PM to hold quarterly review meetings

–Finance Minister Asad Umar and his economic team given another chance, sources confirm

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday decided not to make any changes in his cabinet of ministers, putting to bed reports claiming several ministers, including Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry, may be replaced after the first performance review.

Presiding over a special meeting of the federal cabinet that lasted for over 9 hours, PM Imran said that the ministers will be tasked with a specific strategic plan for implementation over the five years.

The review meeting was held in order to further improve the performance of every ministry and work towards the enhancement of people’s quality of life, said a statement issued by the PM’s Office, adding that the review meetings will also ensure whether the overall performance of the government is on track.

During the meeting, the actions taken by the respective ministries with regards to service delivery, austerity measure and future plans were discussed, with a view of how to improve each ministry’s performance.

The premier has also decided to hold quarterly performance review meetings to monitor the working of the ministries and divisions.

In a series of tweets, the ruling party said PM Khan reviewed the performance of each minister “on the basis of the government’s 100 days agenda” apart from three other aspects, including the contribution to savings through austerity drive, number and nature of new projects initiated and future road map.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Performance of 26 ministries reviewed with rest pending
• Sheikh Rasheed says he “stood first”
• PM hints at making Murad Saeed federal minister
• Ali Muhammad Khan, Shehryar Afridi praised for 100-day activity
• PM reposes confidence in Fawad Chaudhry as info minister
• Asad Umar and his economic team given another chance
• FM Qureshi appreciated for his handling of foreign policy
• PM expresses concerns at some ministers’ performance
• Instructs for setting up targets to be achieved
• Performance review to be carried out every three months

During the session, PM Khan said, “The foundation of ‘Naya Pakistan’ has been laid. The ministries should establish an action plan to implement the goals decided in the first 100 days.”

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the premier reviewed the performance of all ministers with great patience. “The things done in the ministries during the last 100 days could never have been imagined over the past 10 years,” Fawad added.

The info minister also said that PM Khan expressed satisfaction at the performance of Minister of State for Communications Murad Saeed and hinted at making him a federal minister.

“As far as the most notable performance is concerned, PM was impressed by Murad Saeed’s performance and gave the hint that he would be made a federal minister,” Fawad told reporters.

Sources said that only the performance of 26 ministries could be reviewed in the prolonged session while the rest of the evaluation will be carried out on a new date.

ASAD UMAR GIVEN ANOTHER CHANCE:

The performance of the Ministry of Finance was thoroughly reviewed during the marathon meeting, sources confided to Pakistan Today, adding that Finance Minister Asad Umar and his economic team has been given another chance with room for improvement in a bid to maintain the investors’ confidence.

Moreover, sources said SBP Governor Tariq Bajwa will also not be replaced as he holds a key position in the negotiations for IMF bailout package.

The premier has expressed concerns over the performance of Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal, Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan and other coalition partners, while giving them specific goals to achieve till the next review, sources added.

On the other hand, sources said several PTI ministers including Fawad Chaudhry, Sheikh Rasheed, Ali Muhammad Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi among others were appreciated by the PM for their first 100-day performance.

It is pertinent to mention here that PM Khan had earlier hinted at a reshuffle in the cabinet during his interaction with a select group of senior journalists in Islamabad. The premier had said that he received progress reports from the federal cabinet, especially on the cost-cutting measures.

“The government will act on these reports … and it might make some changes in the cabinet,” he stated.

Earlier, sources said that according to the agenda of Monday’s meeting, only the prime minister will ask questions whereas the ministers will not even be authorised to raise any queries. “Every ministry will be given 10 minutes for the briefing while the federal secretaries have been directed to present a concise and to-the-point presentation,” they said.