ISLAMABAD: It was discreetly authorised in February that Azam Khan, the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary, would be nominated as an executive director of the World Bank.
Azam Khan will replace the present director, Naveed Kamran Baloch, when his contract expires in November. In the past, Shahbaz Gill, a special assistant to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has rejected these rumours as ‘false news.’ But it appears that Gill himself has confirmed that the ‘false news’ was in fact true.
During the administration of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the four-year term of an executive director of the World Bank was reduced to three years. It should be noted.
That period was further shortened to just two months following the election of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to power. When Naveed Kamran Baloch was appointed for only two years, many people were surprised.
Azam Khan, though, appears to have been the target of a long-term strategy to guarantee he keeps the post after the present term finishes.
According to a report, Khan appointed Asad Hayauddin as secretary for economic affairs, who subsequently proposed Khan to be executive director of the World Bank.
For approval in August or September, a summary of the new executive director had to be moved in June. The summary was finally secured by Khan in February. Shahbaz Gill has now verified the news, saying that the new appointment would take effect in November or December of this year.
