Abdul Hafeez Shaikh takes charge as finance adviser to PM

Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh assumed on Saturday charge as the adviser to Prime Minister Imran Khan on finance, two days after Asad Umar stepped down from the finance ministry.

The finance minister will also take charge of Revenue and Economic Affairs Division, local media reported. Shaikh served as the finance minister from 2010 to 2013 during the last tenure of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). He has also remained in the cabinet of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

In a major cabinet reshuffle, the premier had asked Umar to step down from his post and take the energy minister portfolio. The former minister had turned down the offer and had not taken any other ministry. Fawad Chaudhry who served as information minister was also removed and was instead appointed as minister of science and technology.

Similarly, Shaheryar Afridi who was minister of State for Interior has been made minister of states and frontier regions (SAFRON).