ISLAMABAD: The government’s chief economist, Dr Jaffer Qamar, resigned on Wednesday.

The resignation, third in a week by a high-ranking official of government’s economic team, was confirmed to Dawn by Planning Commission’s Deputy Chairman Dr Nadeem Ul Haq. He said Dr Qamar, who had taken office in August last year, was going back to the United States where he taught in two major universities, and to lead technical consultants at the Asian Development Bank.

He said Dr Qamar had made a good contribution and worked hard on important issues.

State Bank governor Shahid Kardar stepped down last week and Auditor-General of Pakistan Syed Tanvir Ali Agha was eased out unceremoniously on Tuesday, a few months before his retirement.

Since the country was not producing good economists, Dr Haq said, it was difficult to lure qualified overseas Pakistanis to important posts in MP-1 scale.

“If we are interested in retaining good people on important positions our system will have to change, giving attractive financial package and policy independence to them,” he said.

Dr Haq said that efforts to get another chief economist would be started in a couple of days, but conceded that good people sought independence in policy formulation.

Islamabad based-development sector economist Dr Abid Suleri said that after the departure of three important officials within a week Pakistan could face difficulties in renegotiating another bailout package from the IMF.

He said Pakistan could meet the economic challenges by using political wisdom, and not by politicising issues, because politicisation could force even other competent people in the current economic team to leave.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry administered on Wednesday the oath of office to Aneece Marghoob as acting Auditor General of Pakistan. He has been serving as Additional Auditor General.

Mr Marghoob’s appointment as acting auditor general shows that the government plans to replace him with someone else.

Under the 18th Amendment, the tenure of auditor general has been reduced to four years from five. Mr Agha had threemonths left to complete his tenure.

A source told Dawn that Mr Agha had developed differences with the government on several issues. The government, the source said, was considering to appoint a retired officer of the district management group or accounts group as new auditorgeneral.

Although no decision had yet been taken, the source said, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza was considering the name of Buland Akhtar Rana of the accounts group for the job. He hails from Multan and is believed to be a class-fellow of Mr Gilani.

The source said Mr Rana would have to be first promoted to grade 22 and then retired from government service before becoming eligible for the slot.