Prime Minister Imran Khan has convened the second meeting of Economic Advisory Council (EAC) at his Banigala PM Office on Sunday (tomorrow) to discuss IMF conditions for new programme and progress on interactions with the leadership of Saudi Arabia, China and UAE, well informed sources in Finance Ministry told Business Recorder. The prime minister has visited four countries so far of which financial assistance was sought from three i.e. China, Saudi Arabia and UAE. However, only Saudi Arabia has deposited $1 billion in State Bank of Pakistan so far.
The leaders of sub-group are expected to present the final report to the EAC along with recommendations. According to sources, the prime minister has invited the following members of EAC:
IBA Dean Director Dr Farrukh Iqbal, NUST Principal/Dean Dr Ashfaque Hassan Khan, CDPR Chairman Dr Ijaz Nabi, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, vice chancellor Dr Asad Zaman, professor and director Dr Naved Hamid, former Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Syed Salim Raza, former Principal Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance Sakib Sherani, LUMS economics associate professor Dr Faisal Bari, and SBP Monetary Policy Committee external member Dr Aliya Hashmi Khan.
The ex-officio members of EAC who have also been invited in the meeting are Finance Minister Asad Umer, Planning, Development and Reform Division Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Minister of State for Revenue Muhammad Hammad Azhar, State Bank of Pakistan Governor Tariq Bajwa, Adviser to Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain, Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairman Dr Sania Nishtar, Finance Secretary Arif Ahmed Khan, and Adviser/ Executive Director General (IERU) Dr Khaqan Hassan Najeeb.
The EAC focal persons who will attend the meeting include Federal Board of Revenue Member (IR) Dr Muhammad Iqbal, Ministry of Commerce DG/Trade & Policy Muhammad Ashraf, SMEDA General Manager (Policy & Planning) Nadia Jahangir Seth, MoF Deputy Secretary (IERU-I) Fozia Abid, and Research Associate (IERU) Zafar Ali.