ISLAMABAD, Jul 25 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess progress on the appointment of technical experts across federal ministries and departments, and to discuss measures for enhancing foreign investment.
The Public-Private Partnership Authority presented a detailed briefing on current initiatives and future plans aimed at streamlining expert appointments and increasing investor confidence.
The prime minister, highlighting institutional reforms in the federal government as a top priority, said “We are fully committed to implementing our agenda of economic digitization, rightsizing public institutions, and ensuring merit-based appointments of experts in government departments.”
He also stressed that there will be no compromise on merit and transparency in the appointment of experts.
During the briefing, the meeting was informed that so far, appointments had been made on 15 technical expert positions whereas appointment process was underway for 47 additional technical positions.
“Some 30 candidates have been shortlisted for the appointment of Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officers, and Managing Directors in 7 key ministries and departments,” the prime minister was informed.
He was further told that initial rounds of interviews for appointments in the Petroleum Division and National Vocational and Technical Training Commission had been completed.
Federal ministries have designated focal teams to formulate strategies for investment and sectoral roadmaps for investment have also been prepared for Information Technology & Telecom, Railways, and Tourism.
Sectoral frameworks related to investment in food security, maritime affairs, minerals, tourism, Industry, housing, and energy are in their final stages.
The prime minister was further informed that pitchbooks for 18 economic sectors had been prepared to allocate projects for investment from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Qatar, and Kuwait.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Prime Minister’s Advisor on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar, and other senior government officials.