Tareen refuses to become PM’s adviser on finance

ISLAMABAD: After refusal of former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin to become advisor to Prime Minister on finance during the absence leave of Ishaq Dar, PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is considering State Minister for Finance Rana Afzal Khan for the slot.

Abbasi is also considering establishing Economic Advisory Committee (EAC) for running economic matters of the country for seeking advice of economists and technocrats. The decision to this effect will be taken after taking into confidence the political leadership of PML-N.

Rana Afzal Khan will be assigned to look after the challenging economic situation as well as parliamentary affairs on behalf of Finance Ministry. Rana is currently holding the portfolio of Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Economic Affairs.

There was proposal under consideration at the top for selecting two persons as Minister of State for Finance as well as Adviser to PM on Finance separately but no independent technocrat or economist was ready to get this slot at twilight of the tenure of the incumbent regime.

When contacted, former finance minister Shaukat Tarin on Tuesday confirmed that he had refused to get slot of Adviser to PM owing to variety of reasons as he could not get a weak slot at this stage. When asked about possibility for becoming part of proposed EAC, he said that he would take decision after seeing the stature of other members of the EAC. If Dr Hafiz Pasha, Dr Ishrat Hussain and Saleem Raza opt to join EAC, he would then consider becoming part of any such forum.

Special Assistant to PM on Revenues Haroon Akhtar Khan has been working with the FBR and so far performed well by achieving over 19 percent revenue growth in the first four months despite all odds at economic and political fronts.

But the economic challenge especially on account of external front demand immediate appointment of a professional who knows about economic matters and possesses capability to undertake complex decisions without wasting any further time. “The PM is likely to take a decision within this week or by next week for appointing economic wizard,” said the sources.