The government has constituted a Task Force on Economic Policy (TEP), under Finance Division, with the mandate to provide quality input for policy formulation and ensuring its implementation, sources told Business Recorder here on Monday. The Task Force, headed by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Salman Shah, has also been given the job to take practicable decision on major economic issues for socio-economic well-being of the masses and development of the country.
Salman will be Chairman of the task force and members include Dr Ali Cheema, Lahore; Dr Mushtaq Khan, Karachi; Dr Faisal Bari, Islamabad; Dr Zubair Khan, Islamabad; Dr Junaid Ahmad, Karachi and Saqib Sherani, ABN Amro Bank.
Sources said that these members will work on voluntary basis but the government will reimburse TA/DA to them whenever necessary.
In addition to the above, the following will be ex-officio members of the Task Force: Minister of State for Finance, Member; Secretary Finance, Member; Secretary, Revenue/Chairman CBR, Member; Economic Adviser, Finance Division, Member; Senior Joint Secretary (Inv), Finance Division, Member/Secretary.
The Task Force shall meet at least once every month, but its meeting can be convened whenever felt necessary, sources said.
The Secretariat of the Task Force will be established in the Ministry of Finance, which will include a full-time Policy Analyst along with few other trained civil servants and some young professionals, sources added.