Retired Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa was on Tuesday replaced by Khalid Mansoor as the authority to lead the affairs of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

A notification issued by the Prime Minister's Office said Mansoor had been appointed as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on CPEC Affairs with immediate effect. The appointment will be in an honorary capacity, it added.

Bajwa announced his departure in a tweet, saying Mansoor was "fully equipped" to lead the authority in the future.

"I bow my head before Allah Almighty for giving me an opportunity to raise and steer the important institution of CPEC Authority as one window for all CPEC projects, charting the future direction," he said, adding that his work "wouldn’t have been possible without [the] full confidence and support" of Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government.

"The course is set for future progression of CPEC, this journey will go on. My best wishes to Khalid Mansoor sb, who is fully equipped to take it forward."

Bajwa termed CPEC as a "lifeline for Pakistan", saying it would "transform us into a progressive and fully developed country".

Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar paid tribute to Bajwa for his services "in moving CPEC forward and playing a vital role in broadening of the CPEC scope with a transition to [the] second phase of CPEC".

He welcomed Mansoor as the special assistant to the prime minister for CPEC affairs.

Mansoor's "vast corporate experience, with extensive work with Chinese companies and his direct involvement in leading some of the biggest CPEC projects makes him an ideal person to lead the next phase of CPEC", Umar said.

The government had appointed Bajwa as chairman of the CPEC Authority in November 2019 amid the opposition’s criticism of formation of the authority.

He was also appointed as special assistant to the prime minister on information and broadcasting in April 2020. He stepped down from that position in October last year.

Bajwa had served as Commander Southern Command before his retirement from the army. He remained director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations from 2012 to 2016.

Who is Khalid Mansoor?

Khalid Mansoor has more than 32 years of experience in energy and petrochemical sectors in leading roles for mega-size projects' development, execution, management and operations. He recently re-joined the board of the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) as a director, according to his profile available on Engro Energy's website.

Mansoor, who holds a degree in chemical engineering, served as the chief executive of the Hub Power Company Limited (Hubco) and is the chairman of Laraib Energy Limited, a subsidiary of Hubco.

He has also previously held the position of chief executive officer of Algeria Oman Fertiliser Company (AOA) and prior to that, remained the president and CEO of Engro Fertilisers Limited, Engro Powergen Qadirpur Limited (EPQL), Engro Powergen Limited (EPL) and SECMC, the profile says.

During the span of his career, he has held various key assignments at Engro and Esso Chemicals Canada, serving as a director on the boards of Engro Corporation, Engro Fertilizers Limited, Engro Polymer & Chemicals Limited, Engro Foods (Pvt) Limited, Engro Vopak Terminal Limited, EPQL, EPL and SECMC.