Ahsan Iqbal appointed deputy chief of Planning Commission

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has accepted the resignation of Deputy Chairman Planning Commission (DCPC) Dr Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan and given the charge of DCPC to Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal with an immediate effect.

Now the Minister for Planning will hold full power in the Planning Ministry after getting the charge of DCPC. However, Dr Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan will continue performing as Secretary Apex Committee of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

Top sources confirmed that the war of nerves was continuing within the P-Block (Ministry of Planning) at Pak Secretariat, Islamabad, for the last few months. Finally, Minister for Planning prevailed because he was not comfortable with the position whereby all development projects were cleared by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) headed by DCPC.

Ahsan Iqbal had conveyed his discomfort to the PM’s Office and made all-out efforts to oust the DCPC Dr Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan for the last few months. Finally, Iqbal prevailed and the PM’s Office conveyed to Dr Jehanzeb Khan to tender his resignation which he did and on Friday the PM accepted it with an immediate effect.

According to two different notifications issued by the Cabinet Division on Friday, the PM has been pleased to accept the resignation of Dr Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan from the post of Deputy Chairman Planning Commission with immediate effect and in lieu of one month’s salary.

Another official notification states that the prime minister has been pleased to allow Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, to hold office and perform the function of Deputy Chairman Planning Commission in addition to his duties without any emolument, financial benefits and perks attached to the position with immediate effect and until further orders.

According to the Ministry of Planning spokesperson, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of Pakistan (DCPC). He was first appointed to this position during Nawaz Sharif’s second tenure in 1997. Later, he served as Federal Minister for Planning and Development in 2013, 2022, and 2024. Notably, Ahsan Iqbal has concurrently held the offices of Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and Federal Minister for Planning and Development from 2013-2017 and 2022-2023. Therefore, his reappointment to this role is not unusual.