Famed economist Atif Mian relieved as EAC member

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Friday said the government has decided to withdraw the nomination of renowned economist Atif R Mian as member of the newly-constituted economic advisory panel.

The decision to withdraw the nomination of Atif R Mian of Princeton University (Department of Member Economics) as member of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) comes in the backdrop of protest by some sections of society as well as parliamentarians who objected to his inclusion in the council for being a member of the Ahmadiyya community.

In a tweet, Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the government wants to take along religious scholars and all segments of the society, and it would be wrong if a different perception develops through a nomination.

He said the state of Madina is the ideal of Prime Minister Imran Khan, adding that the premier and his cabinet members love their Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).

The minister said Khatam-e-Nabuwwat is part of our faith, and the government’s recent success in connection with blasphemous caricatures is part of this association.

عمران خان کا آئیڈیل ریاست مدینہ ہے، اور وزیر اعظم اور ان کی کابینہ کے اراکین عاشقان رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم ہیں۔ ختم نبوت ہمارے ایمان کا حصہ ہے اور حال ہی میں گستاخانہ خاکوں کے معاملے پر حکومت نے جو کامیابی حاصل کی وہ بھی اسی نسبت کا اظہار ہے۔

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 7, 2018

حکومت نے فیصلہ کیا ہے کہ عاطف میاں کی اقتصادی مشاورتی کمیٹی سے نامزدگی واپس لے لی جائے،حکومت علماء اور تمام معاشرتی طبقات کو ساتھ لے کر ہی آگے بڑھنا چاہتی ہے اور اگر ایک نامزدگی سے مختلف تاثر پیدا ہوتا ہے تو یہ مناسب نہیں۔

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 7, 2018

Mr Mian’s removal as member of the EAC is in sharp contrast to the government’s earlier stance as the information minister had earlier defended his nomination, saying Pakistan belongs to minority communities just as much it did to the larger majority.

He had asked if the minorities should be forced out of the country.

The premier has changed the hierarchy set-up of the new 18-member Economic Advisory Council (EAC) Unlike past practices, the council will now be headed by the prime minister himself to ensure that the best possible professional advice is available to his government to inform, optimise and synergise the formulation and implementation of its economic and financial policies.

From the private sector, three leading international academics made EAC members were Atif R Mian of Princeton University (Department of Member Economics) and Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy), Asim ljaz Khawaja, Sumitomo-FASID Professor of Member International Finance and Development at the Harvard Kennedy School, and lmran Rasul, Professor of Economics, Department of Member Economics, University College, London.