Azam Khan named as WB executive director
Summary for the appointment of Principal Secretary to PM, Azam Khan, was quietly approved in February
March 18, 2022
- The summary of Azam Khan's appointment was quietly approved in February.
- Khan will replace Naveed Kamran Baloch whose term expires in November.
- SAPM Shahbaz Gill first denied rumours about Khan's appointment and later confirmed them true.
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Azam Khan, will take charge as the new executive director of the World Bank by the end of 2022, according to a summary that was quietly approved last month.
Khan will replace Naveed Kamran Baloch whose term expires in November.
Earlier, when the rumour was first reported by the sections of electronic media, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shahbaz Gill had denied it calling it ‘fake news.’
However, it now seems like the "fake news" was actually true, with Gill later confirming its validity himself.
It is pertinent to mention that the four-year tenure of a World Bank executive director was changed to three years by the PML-N government. However, when PTI came to power, the tenure was further cut short to two years.
Many eyebrows were raised when Naveed Kamran Baloch was appointed for only two years. However, now it seems like this brief appointment was part of a larger plan to ensure Azam Khan gets the position after the current term ends.
It is being reported that Azam Khan appointed Asad Hayauddin as secretary for economic affairs, who then nominated him for the coveted post.
A summary for the new executive director was supposed to be moved in June for approval in August or September. However, Khan secured the summary in February. Now, Shahbaz Gill has confirmed the news, adding that the new appointment will come into effect in November or December.
