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

Opinion

Editorial

Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.
Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...