The Ministry of Finance would finalise appointments of permanent chairmen and members of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) as well as Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in next few weeks. In response to questions raised by the committee on Acting Charge of CCP Chairman, Akbar Sharifzada, Additional Secretary Ministry of Finance informed Senate Standing Committee on Finance here on Wednesday that the process of the appointment of the CCP and the SECP members is under way.
The whole process would be completed in a couple of weeks. The committee which met with Senator Osman Saifullah in the chair asked the Finance Ministry to explain reasons for appointing heads of regulators on acting charge basis. The members of the Senate standing committee also expressed concern over the government failure to appoint full time heads of various institutions including regulatory bodies. Additional Secretary Ministry of Finance said the advertisements were given in the newspapers for appointments in the SECP and CCP. The short-listing has been done and due process would be completed in next few weeks. The Finance Minister would conduct final interviews of the shortlisted candidates and finalise the names for the appointment of the CCP and SECP officials.
Senator Salim Mandviwalla said that for 13 months now the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) is without an appointed head - and the same is the case with 23 organisations. While, adding to his comment, Senator Talha Mehmood stated that it seems to be a policy of the present government to keep the matter in 'limbo'. This way it is easy to get your extra work done because the full time appointed chairperson could stand on his or her feet anytime, he added.
However, responding to the queries, the Finance Ministry official said the matter was delayed due to lengthy process. Previously, overall process was being done by the commission but now the Supreme Court has abolished the commission and the appointments are being made by the Finance Ministry. Later, the committee members directed the Finance Ministry official to inform the committee through correspondence after two weeks regarding progress over the appointments.