Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The government Friday appointed Tariq Bajwa – a BS-22 officer of the Secretariat Group as Finance Division secretary.

The notification issued by the Establishment Division states that Economic Affair Division (EAD) secretary Tariq Bajwa is transferred and posted as a Finance Division secretary, with immediate effect and till further orders.

Bajwa was transferred to the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) in November 2015 when he allegedly failed to achieve the revenue target as the Federal Board of Revenue (FRB) chairman.

The post of the finance secretary fell vacant after the retirement of Dr Waqar Masood on January 21. Since then, the government has given the additional charge to Dr Shujaat Ali, who is working as a special secretary at the Finance Division.

It is worth mentioning here that Tariq Bajwa is due to retire on June 18 and the finance minister will have to refill the important slot in June again.

On the other hand, the government is also considering appointing Member (Operational) Dr Irshad as FBR chairman till his retirement on April 22. Sources said that Adviser to Prime Minister on Revenue Haroon Akhtar had started lobbying for the appointment of Dr Irshad, a BS-22 officer from Inland Revenue.

In August 2016, the government promoted Dr Muhammad Irshad from grade-21 to grade-22 by surpassing four senior officers – Haroon Mohammad Khan Tareen, Rana Ahmed, Riaz Ahmed Khan and Seema Majid, who have filed a petition against promotion of two junior FBR officers.

Meanwhile, sources added that two officers – Shahid Mehmood and Rizwan Ahmad – had become favourites for the slot of the EAD secretary after the notification of Tariq Bajwa as the Finance Division secretary.

Since February 2015, Mehmood is serving as an adviser to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s executive director and Rizwan Ahmed is working as the Trading Cooperation of Pakistan chairman.

The post of foreign secretary has also fallen vacant after the appointment of Aziz Chaudhry as ambassador to America. Rumours are circulating that the government may appoint Ambassador to India Abdul Basit, Ambassador to Geneva Tehmina Janjua and High Commissioner to UK Syed Ibne Abbas on the slot of foreign secretary.