ISLAMABAD: After the defeat in the Senate election, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh would cease to remain Finance Minister after June 11, 2021 subsequent to the expiry of six-month period and the government would have to assign the portfolio of finance minister to some other suitable member.

Under the article 91 section (9) of the Constitution, a minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of the National Assembly shall, at the expiration of that period, cease to be a minister and shall not before the dissolution of that Assembly be again appointed a minister unless he is elected a member of that assembly.

Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply to a minister who is member of the Senate.

On December 11, 2020, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh was sworn in as Finance Minister for a period of six months on the expectation that the government would get him elected in the Senate.

However, after his defeat, he would cease to be the finance minister after June 11, 2021 and it remains unclear as to who would present next fiscal year budget.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021