The federal government has officially constituted a high-powered committee to oversee and finalize Pakistan’s upcoming foreign appointments at two of the world’s most influential financial institutions: the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The process, currently in its final stages, is being led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who is chairing the selection committee tasked with recommending suitable candidates for these strategic roles.
These critical positions, designated at the level of Executive Directors (EDs), are typically reserved for top-tier civil servants and carry significant diplomatic and economic responsibilities. The appointments follow recent vacancies: Touqeer Shah stepped down as Pakistan’s Executive Director at the World Bank to take up a political advisory position in the federal cabinet as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on PM Affairs, while Noor Ahmed’s tenure as Executive Director at the ADB has concluded.
Sources familiar with the matter have confirmed that names under serious consideration include current Secretary Finance Imdad Ullah Bosal and Secretary of the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Dr. Kazim Niaz. Both officers have extensive experience in public financial management and are regarded as strong contenders for these influential overseas roles.
The selection of Executive Directors to multilateral financial institutions such as the World Bank and the ADB is a matter of strategic national importance. These EDs not only represent Pakistan’s economic interests abroad but also play a pivotal role in shaping international lending policies, facilitating project approvals, and negotiating financial support frameworks for the country. With annual portfolios running into billions of dollars, their influence spans across critical development sectors including infrastructure, energy, education, and poverty alleviation.
The positions are based in Washington, D.C. (World Bank) and Manila (ADB) and come with highly competitive compensation packages, with monthly salaries reported to exceed $25,000, alongside additional diplomatic benefits and allowances. These prestigious roles are often reserved for senior Grade-22 officers who have demonstrated reliability, economic expertise, and strong inter-institutional coordination skills.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s leadership in the selection process signals the importance the government places on these appointments. As a seasoned economic policymaker, Dar is expected to guide the committee through a merit-based yet politically attuned evaluation, ensuring that Pakistan’s representation at these global institutions is both technically sound and diplomatically aligned.
The final recommendations will be forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office for approval. The government is expected to finalize the appointments within the coming days to avoid any extended gap in representation and to maintain Pakistan’s influence in the evolving regional and global financial architecture.
These developments reflect Pakistan’s broader strategy to reinforce its presence within global financial governance circles at a time when multilateral engagement is becoming increasingly vital to support domestic economic stabilization and development goals.