–Imran says FBR chief Shabbar Zaidi only accepted the position for six months on his request
–Says Jahangir Khan Tareen not involved in recent flour crisis
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday rejected reports about the removal of Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Reza Baqir.
According to sources, during a meeting of government’s spokespersons, the prime minister made it clear to everyone that the government is not replacing Shaikh or Baqir as they are doing a good job.
The premier also devised a strategy against inflation in the country and directed the finance adviser and SBP governor to speed up the implementations of key decisions.
He told the participants that Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi, who is seriously ill, accepted the position for only six months on his request.
The PM also reiterated strict action against those responsible for wheat and flour crisis. Stressing on the need of keeping the party organised and united, he clarified that Jahangir Tareen was not involved in the recent flour crisis.
Last month, it was reported that the FBR chairman was on an indefinite leave from his official duties on grounds of ill health.
On February 7, while speaking to a local news outlet, Shaikh had hinted that the federal government may decide to change the FBR chairman if he did not recover quickly as the government was planning to introduce a mini-budget.
“The chairman FBR is ill and we hope he recovers quickly,” Shaikh had said in the interview.
Earlier, Zaidi had gone on sick leave from January 6 to January 19. This had led to rumours that there was a rift in the government’s economic team. However, those rumours were rejected by the FBR.
When asked about the details of the government’s plan to introduce a bill to address the missed tax target, the adviser had also stated that the word mini-budget had become controversial.
Shaikh had told the host that economic management was a necessary and continuous process. He had added that it is possible that a finance act can be changed once it has been presented.
