ISLAMABAD: The government has appointed Nasir Mahmood Khosa as executive director at the World Bank in Washington.

He will replace Raja Azeemul Haq, son-in-law of former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

Mr Khosa, who is retiring on Sept 14, was recently posted as secretary to the prime minister. He has served as chief secretary of Punjab and Balochistan.

The post at the World Bank fell vacant after resignation of Mr Haq two months ago. Mr Haq remained on the post for almost six months.

After his appointment, Mr Haq had landed in legal tussle which led to his resignation from the coveted post.

A Finance Ministry official said on Saturday the Economic Affairs Division had sent a summary of three career officers — Nasir Mahmood Khosa, Javed Iqbal and Ghulaam Dastageer — to the prime minister for the appointment. The prime minister selected Mr Khosa, he added.

According to the official, Mr Khosa enjoys respect in international diplomatic community. He said all codal formalities were fulfilled before his selection.

In December, the then prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf appointed Mr Haq to the post. At the time Mr Haq was working as an additional secretary at the Prime Minister Secretariat.

However, the appointment was challenged in the Supreme Court along with his out-of-turn promotion to Grade 21.

The case is still pending.

The Executive Directive at the World Bank represents constituency of seven nations on the bank’s board — Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Tunisia, Morocco, Ghana and Algeria.