ISLAMABAD: The federal government moved Finance Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh in advance of the next budget for the fiscal year 2023–2024 and instructed him to report to the Establishment Division.
Imdadullah Bosal, a BS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), was informed by the Establishment Division that he had been appointed secretary of the Finance Division moments after the transfer.
According to sources, Sheikh, a BS-22 officer in the PAS, requested leave from the government in writing but was turned down since the government was waiting to release its next budget for 2023–24 on June 9.
He had asked the government to relieve him mainly for the following three reasons:
- To travel abroad to attend one of his children’s graduation.
- Back ache brought on the prolonged office hours of sitting.
- Lucrative project with an FCDO-funded assignment; confirmation is pending.
At a time when the nation was struggling to meet the requirements set forth by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to reinstate the Fund-sponsored project, Sheikh offered his services.
In the most recent few years, he served under the rule of both the Pakistan Tekreek-e-Insaf and the Pakistan Democratic Movement, and he made every effort to maintain the IMF plan during a time when the lender was quite strict.
When the government’s ill-conceived cross-fuel subsidy scheme was unveiled without consulting the IMF, he vehemently criticised the action.
However, despite the Islamabad authorities’ best efforts over the past few months, the IMF has not yet revived the halted initiative, therefore his efforts were in vain.
