ISLAMABAD: The Plan­ning Commission is reported to be violating the eligibility criteria set by the cabinet division for the appointment of its chief economist, a post which has been lying vacant since the PML-N came to power, according to reliable sources.

According to the criteria, the person to be selected for the post should be a professional of eminent stature preferably with a doctorate in economics and having at least 25 years of relevant experience. It has been the stated policy of the commission to adhere to the criteria.

But, sources said that with the intention of appointing a favourite candidate the commission had reduced the required experience period from 25 to 15 years in an advertisement it got published in newspapers in March.

Under the criteria, the person to be selected for the post of chief economist should have a PhD in economics with 25 years experience

The sources said the requirement of experience had been reduced to make eligible for the job interview a candidate believed to be a close associate of the deputy chairman of the commission. The candidate, Dr Nadeem Javed, could not have met the criteria, had the criteria set by the cabinet division been retained.

The sources said the commission had interviewed three candidates early this month and placed Dr Javed on the top of the list sent to the prime minister for approval. Noted economist Dr Talat Anwar is the second choice and Dr Idrees Khwaja the third.

According to the sources, Dr Javed and Dr Khwaja came from the background of business management with insufficient experience in economics. On the other hand, Dr Anwar has obtained his doctorate degree in Economics from the Sussex University and masters in Quantitative Development Economics from the University of Warwick.

He fulfils the criteria because he has 28 years of relevant experience, and has undertaken research on policy-making for national and international institutions

But his name has been recommended at number two in the summary sent to the prime minister.

Dr Anwar is currently working at the commission as adviser on macroeconomic and monetary policies and economic reforms.

COMMISSION LACKS 13 MEMBERS: Meanwhile, the composition of the Planning Commission remains still incomplete with the present government in power for more than a year.

According to the website of the commission, only the member food security and climate change has been appointed and the appointment of the remaining 13 members is ‘under process’.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2014