Cabinet reshuffle

It is a tricky business to pull Pakistan’s economy away from the crash course it is headed on

In chess, game pieces are arranged to protect other assets. When a valued piece becomes jeopardised, the player reorganises them and strategises an alternative way to victory.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, being the player, amid mounting criticism over economic performance and a few major security lapses resulting in colossal loss of human life recently, has reshuffled federal ministers and advisers.

While the new appointees bring experience and education with them, there is curiosity as to whether they have more to offer in these new roles than they had in their previous positions.

The cascade began with the resignation of former finance minister Asad Umar on April 18, whose name still officially appears as one holding the portfolio. Pending formalities of resignation acceptance by the President, we should soon see the portfolios reflecting their latest managers.

Asad Umar raised high hopes when he was initially chosen as the finance minister. However, leading a company and a country are two different things. Inexperience on the part of the government and perhaps an outlook too optimistic on the gradient could be blamed.

Furthermore, some economic policies made ease of doing business more difficult, which went against the spirit of strengthening the economy and welcoming trade.

Newly appointed adviser on Finance Abdul Hafeez Sheikh has an impressive resume. It is a tricky business, however, to pull Pakistan’s economy away from the crash course it is headed on, according to some analysts.

It is laudable that PM Khan recognised where trouble existed and promptly sought to create changes instead of denying problems or taking on a passive stance but we remain skeptical because instead of inviting new personnel to the positions, he has simply shuffled the human capital around.

The outgoing position holder will be busy learning the intricacies of his or her new portfolio rather than potentially training the replacement. In the future, rather than outright denial of cabinet change suspicions, which turned out to be true, representatives should consider silence until official news breaks for it has been easy for past Pakistani governments to lose their people’s trust.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2019.

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