SBP governor, FBR chairman shown the door
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KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The government moved to remove the State Bank governor and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman in a rapid series of developments in Islamabad on Friday.
SBP Governor Tariq Bajwa confirmed to Dawn that he was asked to resign while he was in Islamabad for talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that are supposedly ‘progressing’ according to prime minister’s adviser on finance Hafeez Shaikh who has recently replaced finance minister Asad Umar.
The developments came on a day when Prime Minister Imran Khan hinted at further changes to his cabinet in the days ahead.
Mr Shaikh did not discuss the developments on record with Dawn. But when asked if this change during the IMF talks might send a negative signal to the markets, he said: “I hope the markets are going to look at our actions and decide. They have to see the totality of the actions and our policies.”
It was unclear how the change of such senior and important officers will affect the talks with the IMF.
No official reason given for sudden sackings, name of new central bank chief to be announced today
A replacement for the SBP position is expected to be announced on Saturday (today) but there was no official word on when the name of a new FBR chairman will be announced.
Both men seem to have been taken by surprise, as FBR chairman Jahanzeb Khan was scheduling meetings for Saturday till late Friday night when the news of his departure flashed across news TV screens.
Similarly, Mr Bajwa was participating in what many consider the last leg of negotiations with IMF before the finalisation of a programme.
Their removal has not yet been formalised since a notification has to come in the case of the FBR chairman and a letter of resignation from the SBP governor will be required before his departure takes effect. However, this is likely to be a minor formality in the days ahead.
Both Mr Bajwa and Mr Khan are Grade 22 officers of the Pakistan Administrative Service, though the former was appointed after his retirement. There was little indication in the days leading up to the removal about unhappiness with the performance of Mr Bajwa. However, about the FBR, both former finance minister Asad Umar and Prime Minister Imran Khan had given public statements expressing their disappointment over his performance.
Sources in the finance ministry, who were privy to the developments, told Dawn that the FBR chairman was viewed by PM Khan as ‘a mediocre person’, lacking dynamism, and was held largely responsible for the lacklustre revenue performance since his appointment. The FBR is on course to register one of the highest shortfalls of its history by the close of this fiscal year, anticipated to come in above Rs350 billion.
The sources said the recently appointed finance adviser agreed with the prime minister’s views, and seemed to be moving to bring in his own team to manage the country’s finances.
Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar switched his phone off after the news of the removals broke and did not revert to the messages sent seeking comment.
Other members of the government team with direct bearing on economic management also had their phones switched off.
Both the SBP governor and the FBR chairman are key players in any IMF programme. The governor is actually one of the signatories to any programme, and the FBR chairman is tasked with meeting the revenue target that usually lies at the heart of any programme.
Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2019
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On DawnNews
Comments (145) Closed
May 04, 2019 07:42am
Be ready for currency depreciation
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May 04, 2019 07:44am
"Hammad Azhar switched his phone off"? You mean he was unreachable? Dawn, amazing factual reporting. Even knows what people are thinking now.
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May 04, 2019 07:47am
Reshuffle is the best revenge!
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May 04, 2019 08:01am
Another sane voice muffled.
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May 04, 2019 08:02am
What is going on! You can not hide incompetencies by sacking others.
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May 04, 2019 08:04am
How can all the blame for the poor economy, be pinned on the two gentlemen,who were just following the rules, what about the policy makers?
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May 04, 2019 08:06am
New casualty
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May 04, 2019 08:08am
'Asad Umar will return' --- PM.
SBP governor Tariq Bajwa and FBR chairman Jahanzeb Khan will return !
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May 04, 2019 08:08am
With FBR's record and performance, at least the top 10 of the leadership should be fired or demoted.
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May 04, 2019 08:15am
The prim minister is entitle to remove any one due to nonperformance of his/her job. However, it is not prudent to change so often in implementing the Government long term policies. Hire once the cream of Pakistan professionals and keep the moral up in the Government employees.
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May 04, 2019 08:16am
Imran Khan is next in line for non performance
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May 04, 2019 08:16am
Good step...
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May 04, 2019 08:19am
I guess key positions will all be replaced with Technocrats that could include Khan himself.
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May 04, 2019 08:22am
Good move. Should have been done a few months back.
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May 04, 2019 08:25am
Pakistan needs competent people in key decision making financial appointments.
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May 04, 2019 08:26am
Surprise on hasty acts, will not shocked even got the news that PM IK has resigned on one fine morning
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May 04, 2019 08:30am
Everyone is being shown the door except PMIK.
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May 04, 2019 08:37am
Scapegoat's what else....
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May 04, 2019 08:41am
One solution to all your problems, just eliminate all non state actors.
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May 04, 2019 08:42am
Decks being cleared for a takeover.
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May 04, 2019 08:43am
It is clear IMF loans are not approved even during current meetings so somebody has to be blamed.
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May 04, 2019 08:49am
The SBP governor should have been a goner the day IK took oath. Under his watch all the dirty financial jobs were done and he kept snoring.
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May 04, 2019 08:50am
Tariq Bazwa should be made chairman to new department for getting $ 200 MN back
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May 04, 2019 08:55am
This should have been done long, long ago. The two men were known for taking some of the most detrimental measures during their tenure which cost our economy dearly and those measures were certainly not aimed at improving the structural basis of our economy.
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May 04, 2019 08:59am
no point firing. the rot is in the corrupt system! change the system first Janab.
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May 04, 2019 09:04am
I hope these folk don't take it personally. Unless it's the case that both either had an undercover political affiliation with the non-qualified so-called 'Opposition'. Or worse still, had compromised their professional position for bank notes. Chances are those lower down the hierarchy need to be purged from the system too. I hope this the start of a major civil service clean up. The only way for meaningful change is to deep clean the State apparatus. Only those with foresight and depth of insight woukd bd able to understand this. The rest will whine or worse still take it personally. The good people of the country totally trust and support the PM, because he has both integrity and sincerity of intention.
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May 04, 2019 09:12am
Looks like the PTI government is the sacking spree and in panicking mode. What kind of signal this is sending to the market?
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May 04, 2019 09:18am
IK is really the great instead of getting personal he just saw the performance and sacked them appropriately.great leadership.
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May 04, 2019 09:20am
Good going! If you don't perform well it's fine to replace. Wish you well state bank governor and fbr chairman. There should be no hard feelings it's all about our nation and we must not hold grudges we must stop with taking everything personal. They will be fine they have all the money in the world, leaving from such top post in the nations.
Thank you for your service.
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May 04, 2019 09:22am
FBR still hasn’t increased tax collection. Without increase in tax collection the country cannot clean its water, trash and improve government schools and hospitals. Not surprised by the sacking of the FBR chair. It’s time Pakistan start taxing all of its people at a low flat tax rate.
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May 04, 2019 09:36am
PM Imran enjoys inborn prerogative to appoint or dismiss anyone he likes but what surprises me the most is that he himself is weakening his own selection or choices which goes against him. I picked up my diary for 2018 and found out that FBR Chairman Dr Jahanzaib Khan was appointed by none but PM Imran in August 2018 and now he sacks his own choice. Asad Umar, Finance Minister was also a blue eyed person to PM Imran but last month Imran removed Asad as well. I believe Dr Hafeez Sheikh will appoint all those who have worked with him in the past hence many more will be removed in days to come. Dr Hafeez may eventually emerge as de facto Deputy Prime Minister. I had his mobile but then removed since government changed and now I feel sorry since he is back in our power corridor. Will someone give Dr Hafeez mobile? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / zaidi.iqbalhadi@hotmail.com
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May 04, 2019 09:38am
I criticized PM Imran for keeping army of ministers, state ministers, advisors and special assistants. I quoted we had 13 ministers 2 state in our 1st cabinet 1947-51 ruling East & West. PM boasts of austerity but practices otherwise. Pakistan Embassy, Kuwait is without Commercial Secretary for over 18 months. I sent my candidature to most ministers, MNAs, MPAs stating that not only I had been Business and Manpower Advisor but also do not need salary, housing, furniture, family tickets, car means Pakistan saves huge foreign exchange on sending diplomat from Islamabad. I am paid only if Pakistan benefits from me. I dared asking to name any diplomat from whom Pakistan benefited over 40 years but Islamabad cannot name anyone so none replied. Google me and see me with VIPs including members of royal Al Sabah family and voluntarily I want cash my connections to serve Pakistan but, alas, being alien to our power corridor I am always ignored. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / zaidi.iqbalhadi@hotmail.com
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May 04, 2019 09:39am
@Shaikh masood, u should wait another four years and four months patiently.
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May 04, 2019 09:41am
@Prateik, you coments should be like "Everyone is being shown the door by PMIK." My dear neighbour.
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May 04, 2019 09:42am
Complete overhaul of bureaucracy is needed to bring up the competent and honest ones to boost the economy.
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May 04, 2019 09:44am
Right and sensible decision by the govt. It didn't make sense at all to appoint PAS officers on high profile posts relating to country's finances. There must be few in FBR from the Taxation group who would have performed lot better than Mr Jehazeb Khan. PAS has been as much responsible for woes of the country as the politicians and military dictators and over reliance on them would only make things worse. Things can only improve if right people are appointed for the right jobs.
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May 04, 2019 09:45am
Strange, country is running at one man whims
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May 04, 2019 09:49am
Mr. Hafeez Sheikh will bring his own team.
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May 04, 2019 10:00am
It was a wrong decision to appoint Jehanzaib in the first place and I did write about It in social media. You cant expect a status quo trained person to reform FBR. We need transformation specialists in all the organisations which need improvement specially in public sector. This is a specialist job.
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May 04, 2019 10:04am
Its imperative for PTI to change the entire old mind set from the most important administrative positions gradually, incase they are serious to bring real change and implement their own election manifesto in the days ahead.
How the FBR Chairman ignored the public comments of PM & FM about his performance is yet another proof of his arrogance. In spite of sharp drop in tax collection he considered himself indispensable for the new inexperience Govt. All such people should be dealt with firmly. Removal of SBP Governor during the ongoing IMF deliberations might be considered as risky step. But at times, taking such risks become inevitable for sake of a better tomorrow.
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May 04, 2019 10:06am
@Salim w, Yup! Currency depreciation is exactly what this is about - won't change things much - a downward spiral never leads to an upward spiral!
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May 04, 2019 10:11am
Ik should have placed professionals in key posts in the first place...why wait so long?
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May 04, 2019 10:12am
@Mohan , Could be?
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May 04, 2019 10:16am
This guy is a proved corrupt choosen by corrupt Nawaz-league mafia. A very good decision taken by the government to sack him from a very responsible position.
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May 04, 2019 10:19am
@Sachin , Modi will be the next.
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May 04, 2019 10:29am
Both should have been removed long time back .
The SBP governor for failing to catch fake accounts in summit and Sindh bank during yearly audit. The whole SBP audit team should be sacked including the external auditors.
The FBR chairman could not control bribery and corruption in FBR itself.
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May 04, 2019 10:31am
The remainings of PML and PPP go to should be removed immediately
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May 04, 2019 10:33am
@Saud, what, you think he ran out off battery and didn't have access to a charger?
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May 04, 2019 10:34am
This decision should have come months earlier as performance of both the key seats was deplorable...it is hoped now best fit and performing PAKISTANI professionals should be hired and encouraged for long term employment....
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May 04, 2019 10:46am
Why cant they fire people in a civil way
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May 04, 2019 10:51am
Bold and excellent move. Get rid of people with old mind set. An economist should head the SBP as its governor and not a bureaucrat. FBR should be headed by a finance expert with administrative experience and not by a bureaucrat or an accountant
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May 04, 2019 10:53am
Zardari already got NRO from PM Iman in shape of Dr Hafeez Sheikh who will now ensure that fake bank accounts case against his old mentor Zaradai be declared as fake case. Watch my words. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
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May 04, 2019 10:53am
Scape goats in an attempt to cover up the under performance of IK and his team.
R.S. Menon, Bangalore
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May 04, 2019 11:02am
@Humming bird, Thats a big ask. Strategic assets can just not be nullified in one stroke.
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May 04, 2019 11:05am
Tarig Bajwa is one of the corrupt Governor, under his tenure Zardari / Sharif they did money laundering, how the huge amount transferred and Tariq did not look into funds transfer, he is incapable, unqualified, and not fit for this high of SBP, if he go immediately it will be better for Pakistan, he damaged Pakistani economy, dollars and sunk economy ship, regret that he honorably not resigned.
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May 04, 2019 11:07am
Good. Changes must be in the beuracracy as well, if change has to come. Hope same happens in civil service and police.
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May 04, 2019 11:15am
@Salim w,
Well gussesed.
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May 04, 2019 11:15am
Gr8, now bring back Nawaz dar combo
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May 04, 2019 11:22am
@Iqbal Hadi Zaidi, Right on money...people got fooled for the "change" for sure!
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May 04, 2019 11:28am
Premier of country is answerable therefore he had the power to call the shots and hopes his actions bring desired result best for country.
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May 04, 2019 11:34am
Although, Tariq Bajwa was appointed as the Governor SBP in July 2017 for three years, he should have been sacked immediately after the new Govt came in last year. He was hand-in-glove with both Zardari / Sharif facilitating money laundering for both the thugs. He has caused a huge damage to the country, some of which Pakistan will have a long time recovering,
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May 04, 2019 11:36am
This should have happened a long time ago, Those with no understanding of the economy are placed in such key positions. TB is responsible for jacking up the discount rate to nearly 11% killing any private sector investment at a time when rates around the world are at near historic lows to promote growth and investment. These high rates have made it nearly impossible for any domestic borrowing, at a time when the country needs huge investments in multitude of sectors. Good riddance.
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May 04, 2019 11:36am
@Sachin , who the heck are you?
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May 04, 2019 11:37am
@Khaled, Those who don't understand the ABC of modern economics should refrain from opening their mouths.
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May 04, 2019 11:43am
It took nine months for the IK and the PTI government to figure out that these two executives are incapable!
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May 04, 2019 11:47am
About time. Specially Mr Bajwas role over time.
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May 04, 2019 11:53am
SBP Governor DMG. FBR Chairman DMG. SBP Governor should be some sensible monetary economist and FBR Chairman, someone from revenue services like customs and income tax. But DMG mafia invariably prevails and has, among other mediocres, has brought to current mess!
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May 04, 2019 11:55am
Last but good decision.
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May 04, 2019 12:09pm
In the rest of the world in the workplace, If an employee isn't performing well they get the sack. This is a common way of doing things. If you want productivity and performance you get rid of somebody who isn't up to the job and replace them with someone who can. Restructuring and reshuffling staff is a common way of doing thing's. It's good to see Imran Khan understands this and is actively working on improving things.
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May 04, 2019 12:09pm
The PTI government is just falling apart. It's easy to be in the opposition and blame everything on the government. But to be the government yourself is a whole different story. Learning the hard way.
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May 04, 2019 12:21pm
Good but too late decision and it is not going to make any big difference.
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May 04, 2019 12:26pm
@M. Emad, yes sir. The return of the Empire shall come. The day is not far.
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May 04, 2019 12:29pm
Imran Khan himself is the most in-competent person of the entire govt. He should come forward to resign.
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May 04, 2019 12:34pm
Nice work done by govt. Pm was indicating fbr performance quite some time ago. Btw what is the problem with neighbors, don't they find some other nice forum for Pakistan fobia.
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May 04, 2019 12:41pm
Both openers gown now. Out cheaply
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May 04, 2019 12:45pm
As you sow, so shall you reap.
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May 04, 2019 12:49pm
"Phone was switched off" Beat it now!
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May 04, 2019 12:49pm
These acts by governments are nothing but scape goats.. Such acts only bring instability in top bearucracy hence every one interested to safe guard their interest instead to take bold and right decisions. GoP should bring stability and job security to make government machinery work effectively.... unless vested interest plays its role. Certain comments in this column rightly pointing to what comes next...
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May 04, 2019 12:58pm
Sacking people will not fix the economy unless they were resisting foreign banks agenda eg. Goldman sachs, J.P. Morgan etc. backs behind WB & IMF.
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May 04, 2019 12:58pm
Indian people want our currency to reach Rs 200 to a dollar.
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May 04, 2019 01:01pm
A belated step. SBP Governor is responsible for ALL the 'fake accounts,banks' and money laundering' and an editorial of The Nation Lahore said that the 'biggest hurdle in meeting the tax-collection target is the FBR itself'. says all.
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May 04, 2019 01:12pm
@Iqbal Hadi Zaidi, We can all serve Pakistan in our personnel capacity with out any appointments, position etc. Please use your influence and connections to advance cause of Pakistani interests, commercial or otherwise. I am sure you do not need any position in Pakistan Embassy. All the best.
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May 04, 2019 01:18pm
This is what happens when you have a ship with no trained crew on it. Tabdeeli in full in-swing
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May 04, 2019 01:35pm
@Shahrukh Inayat, No, Indian people want government of Pakistan to peg the PKR 100 to the USD, with all means at their disposal.
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May 04, 2019 01:42pm
I thought that SBP governor is independent, not ruled by Prime Minister.
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May 04, 2019 01:56pm
It is incomprehensable that the FBR body cannot collect the taxes correctly.
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May 04, 2019 01:59pm
Soon there will be no professional and career senior civil servants left to take on implementation of policies and governance except for IK appointees.
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May 04, 2019 02:01pm
Complete overhauling in state bank,FBR,SECP is needed because previous governments recruited inefficient,corrupt,and political motivator from peon to chief executive.
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May 04, 2019 02:03pm
Happening for the good....
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May 04, 2019 02:10pm
He is slowly moving out the old guard and bringing in his own team.
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May 04, 2019 02:12pm
Now PMIK is truly competing with POTUS. Go Imran go.
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May 04, 2019 02:12pm
@Shahrukh Inayat, Indian people want our currency to reach Rs 200 to a dollar."
It is up to Pakistani brothers and sisters to decide what they want their currency to be at..... Conspiracy theories in everything is really not the solution...
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May 04, 2019 02:13pm
All firings and new hirings, including Hafeez Sheikh's, under IMF command. Bravo PM!
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May 04, 2019 02:18pm
@Prateik, Everyone is being shown the door except PMIK"
PM IK to be replaced by sheikh Rashid you mean?!
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May 04, 2019 02:18pm
It is perfectly acceptable to sack someone in whom prime minster has lost faith... happens in every democracy!!
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May 04, 2019 02:23pm
SBP should buy short term treasury bills and sell off its ten year bond holdings in regular stages. This is exactly what the US Fed did to come out of the financial crisis.
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May 04, 2019 02:38pm
Economic performance of this 'government' was riding on the performance of these very people. Patience does have limits. Now many in bureaucracy will get the message. When it starts from the very top, it does affect deep down.
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May 04, 2019 02:38pm
Ik should have taken this decision six months back. I am not sure why IK is so slow in making decisions.
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May 04, 2019 03:03pm
Let's hope they find an economist with some knowledge of the forex dealers mafia working in the country as Governor SBP. Otherwise teaching an industry guy like Asad Umar or PAS grade 22 bureaucrat the fiscal, forex and monetary policy decision impacts on the economy would be an impossible task. And please avoid retired or senior commercial bankers as chief central banker.
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May 04, 2019 03:06pm
We gave ppp and pml 40 years and multiple terms, give him at least 2 to 3 years.....
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May 04, 2019 03:08pm
@Iqbal Hadi Zaidi,
Sir, with all due respect to you, I don't think appointments in foreign service take place in this manner. You need to follow the prescribed route.
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May 04, 2019 03:11pm
The incompetency of the deep state cannot be rectified by removing beurocrats and jailing politicians.
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May 04, 2019 03:27pm
Any 'player' in a team who does not 'perform' as expected needs to be replaced one with more competent player!
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May 04, 2019 03:31pm
In the age of Specialization, SBP, FBR and other professional organizations should not be entrusted to Grade 22 officers of PAS who are 'jack of all trade and master of none'. If occupational groups like Customs and IRS cannot produce an officer worthy to be appointed as Chairman FBR then 'something is rotten in the State of Denmark'. The Civil Service Reforms Task Force of Ishrat Hussain CSP and Arbab Shahzad PAS should find an answer rising above the petty service interests.
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May 04, 2019 03:35pm
Pathetic act on the part of Federal Government. Taking out such important people at the time of negotiation with IMF. Could not this been done earlier before the start of meetings. This government has utterly failed as a governing body.
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May 04, 2019 03:49pm
About time these 2 were still taking lead from absconder Dar in London. IK should fire every piece of PML-N deadwood.
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May 04, 2019 03:50pm
Very very good decision, though It should have been taken six months earlier.
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May 04, 2019 03:53pm
@Khaled, Economy is not a thing of at its own. It’s a combination of various mechanism and factors. Any factor not working in line with the required standard needs to eliminated. I am amazed by the strategy of present govt and how slowly but steadily they getting rid of incompetent factors of economy. Kudos to the present leadership
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May 04, 2019 03:55pm
@Shaikh masood, - do you happen to know guys upstairs? If they are happy and laughing at their selection, IK is going nowhere.
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May 04, 2019 04:00pm
Good job done PM ... your performance is being hindered by bureaucracy and some elements in your party ... deal with them firmly
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May 04, 2019 04:04pm
We were expecting these changes but become bit late, all possible action must be taken to improve country's economy.
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May 04, 2019 04:12pm
@Mirza, - arrogance and lack of real experience are the two main problems. IK thinks all are junior members of a cricket team.
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May 04, 2019 04:13pm
@Shan, No dear, it's not great leadership. IMF team in the town, these very same people IK govt. nominates them to negotiate and without giving any reasonable excuse, sacking. It's called whimsical attitude. It actually shows the seriousness of the economic situation of Pakistan.
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May 04, 2019 04:49pm
Better late than never! But exposed govt incompetency in placing right people for the right job.
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May 04, 2019 05:35pm
Gues with whom the list of sacking shall end with.
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May 04, 2019 06:09pm
@Iqbal Hadi Zaidi, his mobile or his mobile number?
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May 04, 2019 06:12pm
@Iqbal Hadi Zaidi, thank you but we have more competent people
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May 04, 2019 06:18pm
He must be investigated for currency depriciation, seems to me, a foreign hitman like Ishaq Dar.
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May 04, 2019 06:18pm
IMF calling the shots....their bailout pre-conditions. Everyone at the top will be their nominations.
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May 04, 2019 06:19pm
@Shaikh masood, Yes, but after 25 years, like your leader who is in Jail, one is absconder, and third one is under NAB investigation, sorry forgot, whole families are involved in Money Laundering cases.
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May 04, 2019 06:28pm
It is clear that IMF is asking for something substantial which '"they" can't agree to. Either these gentlemen are sacrificial lambs or might have suggested agreeing to IMF demands, thereby crossing the red lines. Best of luck Pakistan.
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May 04, 2019 06:51pm
IMF wants to protect their investment. They are asking for people if their own choosing to be in place before they release any funds.
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May 04, 2019 06:52pm
This move was long overdue; in fact should have been sanctioned when the new government was formed. Only people who care for and are willing to work in the national interests should be appointed at these critical positions.Party political loyalties are devastating the fabric of this great nation!
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May 04, 2019 07:01pm
When you changed the finance minister overnight, you should expect the change. It’s nit the change that concerns me, it’s the timings, the way it’s being done that stops me in my tracks and wonder, is there a plan ? Or is this PM wakes up in the morning and just reacts.
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May 04, 2019 07:09pm
This is good. Hope India too learns from this.
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May 04, 2019 07:34pm
@Salim w,
Correct. With oil prices going higher, we are looking at 155-160 range by end of summer.
Good news for hardworking Pakistanis working abroad is that in 2-3 months, they will get 20% more rupees for their foreign currency. If you are sending $$ home to Pakistan, wait for 2-3 months.
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May 04, 2019 07:43pm
Inflation is up more than 10%!!
-Means food,shelter,clothing awam and services like cleaning. All governmental services like cleaning, education, hospitals etc. are more expensive.
Revenue collection is down by 20%!
-Means government has less money for services which are expensive due to record inflation.
Defense expenditure is up by more than 20%!!
-Means, defense that eats up more than 1/3 of budget usually is even going to eat up more money!
It is obvious who is going to suffer the most, the regular awam, who is only trying to feed his family.
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May 04, 2019 07:46pm
What about autonomy of central bank? If Central bank chief is not protected from political interfere and threats then how can rule of rules will be implemented. In India a government can't sack central bank (Reserve Bank of India) governor. In result many times Reserve Bank blocks government's populist moves which are not prudent. If political leaders will govern financial policies at their whims, economy will be in ruins for sure.
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May 04, 2019 08:03pm
Perform or perish, I welcome the new culture in governance, non performers have no place
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May 04, 2019 08:31pm
Dr. Raza Baqar is expected to become new governor SBP. He is employee of IMF. Currently senior resident of IMF in Egypt. Ex mission chief of imf in romania, ex president of IMF debt policy division.
IMF needs complete plan to be executed without local hindrances......
Wait for more taxes, higher tariffs, inflation all over.
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May 04, 2019 08:59pm
if someone doesn't deliver, has to be replaced, very simple. That is the only way Pakistan will progress.
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May 04, 2019 09:09pm
We told u so...give credit to amir matin and rauf klausra and haroon rasheed criticised ik for these mediocre appointments but he persisted because he had no alternatives...he needs to get rid of all the deadwood status wood occupying space w o any spaces many ministers and advisors like ishrat hussain mister status quo chief
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May 04, 2019 09:21pm
Change is good. There is no such thing as life time employment. Unfortunately in Pakistan people consider government jobs as a retirement plan. It’s time for change!
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May 04, 2019 09:31pm
@Aamir Latif , Not quite. FBR has seldom or never met the target set for tax collection.
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May 04, 2019 09:53pm
All the deadwood should be shown the door...
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May 04, 2019 10:42pm
Good Move.....anyone who is not working as they supposed to, remove them. Many of these elite officers got in a bad habit of doing nothing but collecting huge amount of salary for too long.....it's time for a change, and I am very happy to see a change in process.
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May 04, 2019 11:37pm
@Jamshed , When a person doesn't know facts, he shouldn't pass verdict. Check facts and dates before opining please.
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May 05, 2019 03:25am
@Citizen of the World, The trained crew brought the ship close to sinking did it not?
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May 05, 2019 04:18pm
Civil services people should never be holding offices of the SBP or FBR. You need people with technical skills and know how of these departments. Also Civil services should also get rid of this decades old hiring structure. Government does not need these 'generalists' but specialists in every department.
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May 05, 2019 10:23pm
We always act after the damage is done .... this man was appointed by Ishaq Dar, the man who's job was to destroy the economy, this was no secret and yet the central bank governor was left in this important position for 8 months ..... WHY ?
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May 06, 2019 07:54am
@Ahsan Jahangir, You are absolutely right in saying that unless the changes in induction process of civil servant is not brought about, the country will remain subservient to our ageold colonial era bureaucrats comprising of generalist with social sciences background.
There is a dire need to create a technical cadre who should be inducted on the basis of expertise directly into BPS 19 /20. No generalist should be promoted & posted against a technical posts. We have a large number of expatriates Pakistanis with rich experience of years of working in western countries, & once induced to work in their own country, they can play a positive constructive role in getting Pakistan out of the wood for good.
This will require a complete structural reforms of our bureaucratic system & will break the unholy marriage between the civil servant & their political bosses - a cause of organized corruption in civil society, eating away the foundation of the country like a Omni present termite w/o cure
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May 06, 2019 10:56am
He should have been shown the door the first day PTI government came to power.
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May 06, 2019 05:37pm
While the PM has the authority to change the bureaucracy, even without assigning a reason, however decency should be followed while taking such decisions. Here the same could have done at appropriate time and gracefully. Hope the new team will be able to show results as we are running against time.
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May 07, 2019 07:53am
running a government is not just a cricket match. changing your team members will not do any better.still we have very bad situations . no doubt IK government did took some good steps but over all his team of inexperience politicians are failed to bring change which was promised.
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May 07, 2019 09:25am
Unfortunate. He was calm, honest but could not survive due to complicated system and In the jungle of corrupt surroundings. It better not to continue if you could not handle these corrupt system.
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