Three names under study for post of Pakistan’s ED in WB

ISLAMABAD: With the reappointment of one Executive Director (ED) at the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) on a temporary basis, the Shehbaz Sharif-led government has finalised a panel of three top bureaucrats for the post of Executive Director at the World Bank.

A high-powered committee, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, has shortlisted the candidates and submitted the panel to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for final approval. The panel for the ADB post will be finalised upon Dar’s return from abroad.

“The government has reappointed Noor Ahmed as Executive Director at the ADB until further orders,” top official sources confirmed to The News on Sunday. “The Ishaq Dar-led committee will finalise a panel of senior bureaucrats in the coming days and forward it to the Prime Minister for approval.”

According to sources, the leading contenders for the ADB position include Economic Affairs Division Secretary of Kazim Niaz, Interior Secretary Khurram Agha and Finance Additional Secretary Amjad Mehmood.

Although Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal was earlier considered a strong candidate for the ADB position, it now appears he is no longer interested in the assignment. However, since no final decision has been made, other names could still emerge in the race for this coveted position.

Multiple senior officials in the Shehbaz Sharif government confirmed that the panel for the World Bank post has been finalised. A formal note has been submitted to the prime minister by the committee headed by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar. The committee was constituted specifically to recommend appointments for Executive Directors at both the World Bank and ADB.

Another senior official noted that the finalised panel for the World Bank includes only serving civil servants—no retired bureaucrats or private sector individuals are part of the list.

The ED post comes with a highly attractive compensation package—approximately $272,980 per annum, tax-free. Kazim Niaz is currently serving as Economic Affairs Division Secretary. A BPS-22 officer, he previously served as Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2019–2021) and Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan. He also runs the Sabawoon Volunteers Association, a welfare organisation operating a free school for underprivileged children in Pakistan. Captain (Retd.) Khurram Agha, currently Interior Secretary, is also a BPS-22 officer in the Pakistan Administrative Service. He has held prominent roles including Secretary Commerce, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan, among others.

Amjad Mehmood, serving as Additional Secretary Finance (IF/INV/IGF), brings 32 years of experience in Pakistan’s civil service. He has served as Advisor to the Board of Directors at ADB and has worked extensively with key regulatory and financial institutions including SECP, SBP, CCP, NBP, NIT, Pak-China Investment Company, NCGCL, and HBFCL. Another senior government official, when contacted, said that the appointment process remains under discussion.

The positions became vacant following the departure of Tauqeer Shah from the World Bank, where he served as ED before being appointed Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on PM Affairs. Meanwhile, Noor Ahmed’s term as ED at ADB has ended, but he has been reappointed temporarily until further orders. The ED roles at both the World Bank and ADB are considered highly prestigious, offering not only strategic influence but also generous compensation packages.