ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain has categorically rejected reports being spread about the finance minister, saying Prime Minister Imran Khan had full confidence in the capabilities of Asad Umar.
In a statement, he said the purpose of negative and baseless propaganda against the finance minister was aimed at destabilising the economy which was now on the path of stabilisation.
Fawad Chaudhary said the finance minister was discharging the national duty with full devotion and bringing in use the best of his capabilities.
He said the professional capabilities of Asad Umar have played an important role in stabilising the economy.
Read More: Asad Umar rubbishes rumors of removal as finance minister
The information minister pointed out that investment and exports were witnessing an upward trend while imports were decreasing. He said remittances had also shown an upward trend.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Media Affairs Iftikhar Durrani also rejected news being spread about resignation of the finance minister.
“It is the journalistic and moral responsibility of media to confirm and verify such news before broadcast,” he said.
He said such baseless news would put negative impact on economy of the country.
Neither is @Asad_Umar going anywhere and nor is our drive to reform and undertake fundamental reforms going to diminish. Vested interests that thrive on the status quo arrangements will resort to different tactics. Simply ignore!
— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) December 5, 2018
Asad Umar himself rubbished any such news saying that he had no knowledge pertaining to the news of his expected removal from the finance portfolio by the government.
A rumor doing rounds on social media and taken up as news by a section of media said that the government is likely to replace Asad Umar with former State Bank governor Shamshad Akhtar over his “unsatisfactory performance”.
Talking to a media outlet, the finance minister elucidated, “being the finance minister, I am still chairing a session and have no information regarding the news of my expected removal from the post.”
