PM to name new finance secretary

ISLAMABAD: The incumbent Ministry of Finance Secretary Arif Ahmed Khan will retire during the ongoing month and four top bureaucrats including Younas Dagha, Noor Ahmed, Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan and Umar Hameed are the major contenders for this key position.

Incumbent Secretary Commerce Younas Dagha is on the top of list and Prime Minister Imran Khan is all set to take decision in this regard in third week of ongoing month. Noor Ahmed, who is currently servicing as Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD), is another potential candidate for this top slot.

“Incumbent Secretary Finance Arif Ahmed Khan is going to retire on March 21, 2019 after reaching age of superannuation after which the government will appoint new Secretary Finance at a time when the PTI-led government might be negotiating fresh bailout package with the IMF around the upcoming budget 2019-20,” official sources said while talking to The News here on Friday.

FBR Chairman Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan is also strong contender but the premier might not like replacing him from the slot just a few months ahead of the completion of ongoing financial year. Although, the FBR is facing revenue shortfall but the incumbent FBR chairman has set the stage where serious reforms could kick-start under his leadership having far reaching impact on the overall performance of the tax machinery.

Minister for Finance Asad Umar will play a key role in selection of new secretary finance. The strong headed Secretary Finance is crucial for delivering on economic front under the IMF programme, said the official sources.

Mr Arif Ahmed Khan assumed charge of the post of Secretary, Finance Division on Jan 10, 2018. A civil servant with 35 years of experience in Public Administration, he had served the federal and provincial governments in various positions. Mr Khan holds a Masters in Public Policy from Concordia University, Quebec. Before joining Finance Division, he had served as Secretary Economic Affairs Division, Secretary Interior and Secretary Climate Change.Mr Khan had served as Additional Chief Secretary, Planning and Development Department, government of Sindh. He was Secretary Finance for the government of Sindh during 2012-13. Prior to that, he remained Home Secretary to the government of Sindh for three and a half years.

He also had the opportunity of serving as Consul General and Trade Commissioner of Pakistan in Montreal, Canada and as Programme Coordinator for International Trade Centre (ITC), Geneva. In between he was Director General for the Export Promotion Bureau (now Trade Development Authority of Pakistan) in 2004–2005. In the initial years of his service he served as Deputy Commissioner in three districts of Sindh.