ISLAMABAD, March 17 (Reuters) - Pakistan's former privatisation minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has been offered and will accept the post of economic advisor, a senior government official said.
The appointment, expected to be officially announced in the next few days, ends three week of speculation and uncertainty over who would fulfil the duties of former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, who resigned last month to focus on his private business interests.
Shaikh's appointment is likely to reassure international donors that Pakistan is committed to reforms required by the International Monetary Fund in exchange for an $11.3 billion loan. The fate of the next tranche -- about $1.2 billion -- will be discussed at an IMF board meeting on March 24.
(Editing by Ruth Pitchford) Keywords: PAKISTAN ECONOMY/ADVISOR (E-mail: chris.allbritton@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: chris.allbritton.reuters.com@reuters.net; Islamabad newsroom: +92 51 281 0017; mobile +92 300 8560 215) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The appointment, expected to be officially announced in the next few days, ends three week of speculation and uncertainty over who would fulfil the duties of former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, who resigned last month to focus on his private business interests.
Shaikh's appointment is likely to reassure international donors that Pakistan is committed to reforms required by the International Monetary Fund in exchange for an $11.3 billion loan. The fate of the next tranche -- about $1.2 billion -- will be discussed at an IMF board meeting on March 24.
(Editing by Ruth Pitchford) Keywords: PAKISTAN ECONOMY/ADVISOR (E-mail: chris.allbritton@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: chris.allbritton.reuters.com@reuters.net; Islamabad newsroom: +92 51 281 0017; mobile +92 300 8560 215) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.