Pakistan has taken a key step in appointing its next executive director at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as the federal government finalizes a three-member panel tasked with selecting the candidate, according to sources cited by The Express Tribune. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided not to relieve current senior bureaucrats from their positions for the overseas posting, signaling a strategic approach to retaining talent within critical domestic roles.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has shortlisted three officers from the Pakistan Administrative Service for the ADB role. The candidates include Special Secretary Establishment Sarah Saeed, Secretary Health Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh, and Special Secretary Finance Nasheeta Mohsin. The summary of the panel’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office for final approval.
If not selected for the Manila posting at ADB, officials suggest alternate roles for the candidates. Sheikh could be considered for appointment as Secretary of Petroleum, while Mohsin may take up the position of Pakistan’s senior adviser to the executive director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, DC, following the conclusion of the current adviser Saif Dogar’s tenure.
Other aspirants included Secretary Finance Imdad Ullah Bosal, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Rashid Langrial, and Secretary Interior Khurram Agha. However, the Prime Minister has opted to retain these officials in their current assignments, reflecting a focus on maintaining stability within key government departments.
The tenure of the outgoing executive director, Noor Ahmed, expired last year, although he was granted an extension until a successor is formally appointed. The executive director position rotates between Pakistan and the Philippines every two years and represents a constituency of seven countries: Pakistan, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, the Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, and Timor-Leste.
The ADB board plays a critical role in shaping policy decisions and approving financing for development projects across its member nations. As one of Pakistan’s major multilateral lenders, the institution is integral to approving budgetary allocations and project financing, making the executive director role a high-stakes position for sustaining financial support and strategic engagements.
The incoming executive director will be tasked with maintaining Pakistan’s ADB financing lines, expanding long-term lending opportunities, and managing board-level engagements. This role is critical as Pakistan’s gross financing needs are estimated at roughly $25 billion annually, encompassing both public sector projects and infrastructure investments. The director will also be responsible for representing Pakistan’s interests within the seven-country constituency, advocating for policies and funding that align with the country’s developmental priorities.
The panel formation and the selection process underscore Pakistan’s continued focus on strengthening its presence in international financial institutions, ensuring that its voice and strategic priorities are effectively represented at the ADB while safeguarding domestic governance continuity.
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