Raza Rabbani terms Khusro Bukhtiar's appointment as 'conflict of interest'

• Raza Rabbani terms the appointment of Khusro Bukhtiar as Minister for Industries and Production as a conflict of interest.
  
• Rabbani notes Bakhtiar is the owner/shareholder and or his family's interest in a sugar mill.
  
• The former Senate chairman says in June 2021, will be the third IMF-PTI budget, with the fourth finance minister.
  

ISLAMABAD: Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani termed the appointment of Makhdoom Khusro Bukhtiar as Minister for Industries and Production as a conflict of interest, The News reported on Monday.

Rabbani noted that Bakhtiar is the owner/shareholder and or his family's interest in a sugar mill which has also been mentioned in the Sugar Commission. 

Read more: PM reshuffles cabinet, appoints Shaukat Tareen new finance minister

“After the Sugar Commission Report he was removed as Minister for National Food Security as having a conflict of interest and how the conflict disappears in the Ministry of Industries and Production which has a direct link with the sugar industry,” he said told the publication while speaking upon cabinet reshuffle.

The former Senate chairman said in June 2021, will be the third IMF-PTI budget, with the fourth finance minister. 

He said the record bears out that just before a budget a new finance minister is appointed, therefore, his vision is not reflected in the budget.

Cabinet reshuffle

Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan signed off on the reshuffling of the federal cabinet yet again and appointed Shaukat Tareen as the country's new finance minister. 

Read more: Cabinet reshuffle proves PM Imran Khan has failed, says PML-N

Here are some of the other changes made to the portfolios of cabinet members:

• Hammad Azhar has been appointed as the Minister for Energy, replacing Omar Ayub
• Khusro Bukhtiar has been appointed the Minister for Industries and Production
• Shibli Faraz has been appointed the Minister for Science and Technology, replacing Fawad Chaudhry
• Fawad Chaudhry has been appointed the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, replacing Shibli Faraz
• Omar Ayub has been appointed as Minister for Economic Affairs, replacing Khusro Bukhtiar