ISLAMABAD: After holding the all powerful position of principal secretary to the prime minister for about two years, Azam Khan has emerged as the most potential candidate for the coveted slot of Pakistan's Executive Director to the World Bank in Washington DC.

According to reports, a summary consisting of four names - Azam Khan, principal to the prime minister, Naveed Kamran Baloch, federal secretary finance, Ejaz Muneer, federal secretary establishment and Tariq Bajwa, a retired civil servant who served as secretary finance, chairman FBR, and governor State Bank of Pakistan - has been sent to the prime minister for approval.

The prime minister will select one of the four names for the prestigious post of executive director World Bank. The reports said that Azam Khan is on top of the list for the slot, while Tariq Bajwa is also likely to be handpicked keeping in view his experience to head Pakistan's monetary institutions if merit is to be considered.

The government had selected a panel for appointment of Pakistan's Executive Director to the World Bank in Washington DC, which includes the name of three powerful federal secretaries including Tariq Bajwa.

The ministry of economic affairs has moved a summary to Prime Minister Imran Khan, seeking relaxation in rules to appoint a new executive director of the World Bank out of the four handpicked names, the reports said.

The post of Executive Director of the World Bank is considered prestigious and prized and people who are considered close to the prime minister have, in the past, hectically lobbied to win it. This time too, there are reports that intense lobbying is in full swing to pave the way for a powerful bureaucrat close the prime minister to get the prized position.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020