Consultation for caretaker cabinet formation ‘complete’
APP36-150823 ISLAMABAD: August 15 - Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar chairs a meeting to review ongoing road infrastructure projects. APP/ABB/FHA
Dr Shamshad Akhtar tipped as finance minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani as foreign minister
ISLAMABAD: Consultations for the formation of caretaker cabinet has been almost complete and an official announcement to this effect is expected soon, according to sources and media reports on Thursday.
According to the sources, former governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Dr Shamshad Akhtar is likely to be appointed as finance minister.
Earlier this week, Dr Akhtar was conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz by President Dr Arif Alvi on the Independence Day. She had also served as the finance minister in the caretaker government prior to the 2018 general election.
She served as the SBP governor from January 2, 2006 for a three-year term, becoming the first woman to head the country’s central bank.
Former foreign secretary Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani is being tipped as foreign minister at a time when his predecessor Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Kazi has been notified.
Jilani has 38 years of bilateral and multilateral experience as a public servant and career diplomat, having served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Belgium, Luxemburg, and the EU, and Australia.
Jilani was appointed foreign secretary in 2012. As foreign secretary, he was closely involved in negotiations and finalization of CPEC, signing the key agreements for CPEC during the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang under the then PPP government. During his time as ambassador to the EU, he was instrumental in initiating and securing GSP plus concessions for Pakistan, which allowed Pakistan’s exports to thrive in key European markets. – Web Desk/news agencies
