In Islamabad, Dr. Tauqeer Hussain Shah, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, tendered his resignation on Friday. This resignation was accepted by Prime Minister Anawarul Haq Kakar. The effective date of Mr. Shah's resignation is set for October 31, as indicated in the official notification. He will be joining as the Executive Director of the World Bank within next few days.
Mr. Shah holds the rank of BS 22 in the Pakistan Administrative Service. The Establishment Division has formally acknowledged and processed his resignation. It's noteworthy that he had received a one-year extension on a contractual basis following his superannuation at the end of December 2022.
In a separate development, former Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had approved Dr. Shah's appointment as the Executive Director of the World Bank for a four-year term, commencing from the final week of October this year.
However, this appointment faced legal challenges and is currently pending in court. The high court has issued notices to the involved parties concerning this case.
Meanwhile, sources indicate that the government is considering several individuals for the role of the new Secretary to the Prime Minister (SPM). Among the contenders are Dr. Shahzad Bangash, Secretary Housing and Works, Kazim Niaz, Secretary Economic Affairs, and Imdad Ullah Bosal, Secretary Finance. The decision on the new SPM is yet to be finalized.