ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has given the charge of Power Division to his Special Assistant on Coordination of Marketing & Development of Mineral Resources, Shahzad Syed Qasim.

According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday, "in terms of rule 4(6) of the Rules of Business, 1973, read with serial number 1A of schedule -V-A of the said Rules, the Prime Minister has re-designated Shahzad Syed Qasim, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Coordination of Marketing& Development of Mineral Resources as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Power Division and Coordination of Marketing & Development of Mineral Resources, with immediate effect. He will hold the status of Minister of State".

Informed sources told Business Recorder that the Power Division was already anticipating his arrival on an office was prepared for him a couple of weeks ago. However, last week the speculations about his arrival in Power Division almost died down after the promotion of Additional Secretary Munir Azam to BS 22 and his appointment as Special Secretary.

There was a strong perception in the Power Division that Prime Minister is sending Shahzad Syed Qasim to the Power Division to have an oversight on the Minister for Petroleum and Power, Omar Ayub Khan.

The Power Division is facing dearth of power sector experts after sudden removal of Secretary Power Irfan Ali and subsequent departure of two senior officials who were looking after power sector since long.

Shahzad Qasim, who is well regarded in the power sector, had also been made the head of a committee constituted to negotiate with the IPPs but later on that committee was replaced with a new one.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020