Hafeez Shaikh named finance advisor after Asad Umar resigns

ISLAMABAD: Federal cabinet on Thursday saw major reshuffle with the resignation of Asad Umar as finance minister and appointment of noted economist Hafeez Shaikh as Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance, ARY News reported.

In a statement issued from the Prime Minister House, it was informed that Mr Shaikh would be appointed as the country’s financial manager.

Mr Shaikh has served as finance minister from 2010 to 2013 and as Minister of Privatization and Investment during from 2003 to 2006.

Brig (Retd) Ijaz Ahmed Shah was appointed Federal Minister for Interior, a portfolio which rested with Prime Minister Imran Khan since the formation of the cabinet in September last year.

Minister of State for Interior Shaheryar Afridi has been made Minister of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON).

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry was given the Science and Technology portfolio which had been without a minister since December last year after Azam Khan Swati’s resignation.

Ms Firdous Aashiq Awan is set to replace Fawad Chaudhry but as a Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting as she is not a parliamentarian.

Omar Ayub would retain the Ministry of Energy despite earlier rumours that Asad Umar would take the energy ministry in his place.

Meanwhile, Minister of Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan has been assigned the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which was previously held by Mohammad Mian Soomro as an additional portfolio along with Ministry of Privatisation.

To replace Khan, Nadeem Babar has been appointed as Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Petroleum Division.

Azam Khan Swati, former federal minister for science and technology who had resigned after facing a probe regarding his alleged role in the transfer of Islamabad’s police chief, has been reinducted into the federal cabinet.

Swati has been assigned the portfolio of Parliamentary Affairs in place of Brig (Retd.) Ijaz Ahmed Shah, who was appointed parliamentary affairs minister on April 4.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for National Health Services Aamir Kayani was also removed from his portfolio, whereas Zafarullah Mirza was appointed as Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health.