PM rejects candidates picked for posts of economic ministers

Finds finance ministry has deviated from criteria, calls for starting the process afresh

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has blocked a move orchestrated to appoint well-connected bureaucrats as economic ministers abroad after he found that the finance ministry has deviated from selection criteria to give favour to certain candidates.

The decision is likely to save the outgoing government as well as the candidates from possible scrutiny by courts as the finance ministry had shortlisted the candidates in a questionable manner, said official sources.

The finance ministry had sent a summary to the prime minister for the appointment of these bureaucrats as economic ministers in Pakistan’s embassies in Washington, Tokyo, London and Beijing. The PM has turned down the summary, directing the process should be started afresh.



Owing to the misuse of authority by the finance ministry, the premier has also withdrawn the exemption from written tests for the candidates vying for these lucrative posts. Two years ago, former finance minister Ishaq Dar had got the exemption approved from former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on the grounds that posts of economic ministers were highly specialised and technical.



Subsequently, the Establishment Division notified two sets of guidelines, separating the posts of economic ministers from rest of the positions being filled by other ministries. However, the finance ministry did not follow the specific criteria, leaving no option for the PM but to cancel the appointments.

“Prime minister has been pleased not to approve the proposal,” said the directive conveyed by the PM Office to the finance ministry.

It added that the shortlisting carried out by the Finance Division appeared to have nullified the criteria approved two years ago for the selection of economic ministers.



Sources said the candidates that had degrees in accounting or financial law, which did not have much relevance to the posts of economic ministers, were given the same marks as awarded to the candidates having degrees in relevant fields.

Interview marks of certain blue-eyed candidates were also disproportionate to their shortlisting marks, said the officials.

The prime minister also objected to the delay in selection, which was completed hardly a week before the end of government’s term.

Despite having been given exemption from standard procedures, the finance ministry failed to fill in the posts even after a lapse of two years, according to observations of the PM Office.

The finance ministry has forwarded the names of those bureaucrats who during the past few years served with Dar, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and in the PM’s Office.

These candidates were shortlisted after the government circulated the posts among federal and provincial government departments.

The PM was of the view that the finance ministry’s selection of candidates suggested that there was no difference between normal criteria and differentiating criteria for these so-called technical posts.

Foreign postings have long been used to appease blue-eyed bureaucrats that have served the interest of political masters, which led to compromising Pakistan’s interests at the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and International Monetary Fund.

To avoid embarrassment, there is a need to send only highly qualified persons, who must have better understanding of world economy, geopolitical situation and have exceptional socialisation skills, irrespective of their civil service groups.

Owing to poor performance of the finance ministry, the prime minister also gave directive for withdrawing the special exemption from appearing in written tests. The PM directed the finance ministry to initiate the selection process afresh, which should be strictly in accordance with the criteria set for all foreign posts, excluding Foreign Office.

Now aspirants for the posts of economic ministers will have to appear for the test to be conducted by an institution of highest repute like the Lahore University of Management Sciences and Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, according to the PM Office’s instructions.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2018.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.