The federal government has set up a high-level committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to finalize appointments for Pakistan’s top diplomatic postings at the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
These coveted positions of Executive Directors (EDs) became vacant following Touqeer Shah’s resignation from the World Bank role to join the cabinet as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on PM Affairs, while Noor Ahmed’s term as ED at the ADB has also concluded.
According to insiders, the selection process for the new nominees is already underway. Among the frontrunners are Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal and Economic Affairs Division Secretary Dr. Kazim Niaz, though the committee will present its final recommendations to the Prime Minister for approval.
The ED roles carry significant strategic weight, representing Pakistan’s economic and financial interests at major international financial institutions. They also come with lucrative compensation packages, with monthly salaries exceeding $25,000, along with other perks and privileges.
The new appointments, once finalized, will place the selected officers in Washington, D.C. for the WB and Manila for the ADB, and are expected to be announced in the coming days.
