Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Pakistan appoints economist Shaikh as finance chief
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Pakistan appoints economist Shaikh as finance chief
Reuters - Friday, March 19
Send
IM Story
Print
By Kamran Haider
ISLAMABAD, March 18 - Pakistan appointed on Thursday economist Abdul Hafeez Shaikh as the new chief of the Finance Ministry, where he will strive to maintain fiscal discipline and meet International Monetary Fund targets.
Shaikh, who is not a member of parliament and so cannot be appointed minister of finance, was named as adviser to Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on finance, Gilani's office said.
Shaikh's appointment has ended almost three weeks of speculation over who would take over at the Finance Ministry after former minister Shaukat Tarin resigned last month to focus on private business interests. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ For full coverage of Pakistan, click on [ID:nAFPAK])
For a NEWSMAKER on Shaikh, click on [ID:nSGE62G07N]
For main story on Shaikh, click on [ID:nSGE62G0FT] ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > Shaikh was privatisation minister under former president Pervez Musharraf.
Analysts said financial markets would welcome the appointment of technocrat Shaikh instead of a politician.
"The market and investors will take his appointment positively as we have seen him working under the Musharraf regime when the economy was in a recovery phase," said Mohammed Sohail, chief executive of Topline Securities Ltd.
"He played an integral and crucial part as a minister for privatisation ... He's a far better choice than the other names that were being cited," Sohail said.
Pakistan's stock market had closed by the time the announcement was made but the main index ended higher on reports Shaikh had been offered the post and would accept it.
The Karachi Stock Exchange's benchmark 100-share index <.KSE> rose 26.39 points, or 0.26 percent, to end at 10,007.87 on turnover of 97.32 million.
IMF DEMANDS
In the currency market, the rupee <PKR=> ended firmer at 84.20/30 to the dollar, compared with Wednesday's close of 84.25/30, although dealers said that was because of a lack of import payments and increased portfolio inflows.
Shaikh has been a World Bank country head in Saudi Arabia and is also a general partner in the growth capital company New Silk Route Partners, which focuses on private equity opportunities across Asia and the Middle East.
Analysts said Shaikh's broad international experience should mean he will be in tune with what Pakistan needs to do to secure sustained international financial support -- raising taxes, taming inflation and generating more revenue to meet expenditure.
The resignation of the respected Tarin raised speculation he had been caught between the demands of the IMF, whose assistance depends on reforms, and the government.
Tarin negotiated an IMF emergency loan package of $7.6 billion in November 2008 to avert a balance of payments crisis. The IMF increased the loan to $11.3 billion in July 2009.
The government has pledged to keep the fiscal deficit at 4.9 percent of gross domestic product in the 2009/10 fiscal year under its agreement with the IMF, but it has said it could rise to 5.3 percent.
GDP growth this fiscal year is forecast at 3.3 percent but Tarin said in January it could go up to 3.4 percent, compared with 2 percent last year.
But revenue collection is a chronic problem which successive governments have failed to come to grips with.
Pakistan's tax-to-GDP ratio of 9.2 percent is one of the lowest in the world. The government aims to raise it to at least 15 percent.
(Additional reporting by Sahar Ahmed; Writing by Robert Birsel; Editing by Paul Tait)
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Google slams Viacom for secret YouTube uploads Reuters - 2 hours 14 minutes ago
U.S. political odd couple takes on China Reuters - 2 hours 31 minutes ago
FAA proposes $300,000 fine against American Air Reuters - 2 hours 33 minutes ago
CORRECTED - European shares close lower as banks weigh Reuters - 2 hours 34 minutes ago
Barnes & Noble names new CEO in e-books push Reuters - 2 hours 35 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Obama calls for more job creation
Bullock cancels London trip, film premiere called off
Siemens to revamp IT unit, cut 4,200 jobs
Greek PM warns could resort to IMF
Study shows Aussie dingo may be world's oldest dog
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
US children get Playboy, not Bugs Bunny in cable mixup
Omega 3 supplement targets bowel cancer risk: study
Population surge outstrips efforts to eradicate slums
Caracas weeps for its dead after bloody weekend
Study shows Aussie dingo may be world's oldest dog
More Most Viewed »
Chile quake moved Earth's axis, shortened days: scientist
Experts confirm asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs
'Britain's Fritzl' raped daughters for over 25yrs
Researchers back cancer-fighting properties of papaya
Common weed-killer chemically castrates frogs: study
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 19 March 2010 Maliki holds narrow lead in latest Iraq vote count
Greece urges EU aid, but Germany 'open' to IMF appeal
Apple director Jerry York dies at 71
Iraq PM, ex-premier in tight race for parliament
Bullock cancels London trip, film premiere called off
Amazon unveils application to read Kindle e-books on Macs
Obama signs multibillion-dollar bill to create jobs
Creditors want Sex.com in bankruptcy, halt auction
Gaza rocket kills one in Israel, clouds Mideast peace moves
Poll: Three-Term Sen. Barbara Boxer Vulnerable In November
Obama calls for more job creation
London hospital to treat Internet-addicted teens
Myanmar deports jailed Burmese-American activist
|
Blagojevich Denied Request To Delay Corruption Trial
Amazon allows Kindle application for Mac computers
Turkey detains 20 people in coup plot case
Israel attack on Iran could ignite Middle East: Hezbollah
|
'Mr Microchips' proves popular in S.Korean schools
Mya Joins Cedric Gervais For NOH8 Campaign Theme Song
FedEx Q3 Profit Jumps On Volume Growth, Boosts Outlook
Ladies in White march on Cuba crackdown anniversary
|
New Cycling Policy From Transportation Department Earns Praise, Ridicule
Kremlin picks site for Russian "Silicon Valley"
BREAKING NEWS: Obama Postpones Trip Abroad To Concentrate On Healthcare Bill
Cybersecurity needs global rules: British lawmakers
U.S. Leading Indicators Rise Modestly On Manufacturing Gains
Phone Call To Mom Brings Drug Trafficking Charge For Inmate
British youngsters prefer online advice to parents
New Jillian Michaels Series "Losing It With Jillian" Premieres In June
American Known As "Jihad Jane" Pleads Not Guilty To Terrorism Charges
Obama scraps Asia-Pacific trip for healthcare
Junta frees Myanmar-American, deports him
Obama ditches Indonesia, Australia trip over health care
Thai Red Shirts declare 'class war'
Japan, France call on Iran to resolve nuclear crisis now
France rules out opening embassy in N.Korea
US, Russia see disarmament deal clinched soon
Reports: N.Korea executes official over currency chaos
Google slams Viacom for secret YouTube uploads
|
Clinton, Russia at odds over Iranian nuclear plant
N.Zealand's 'Madoff' fraudster spent millions on prostitutes
Website's instant posts of Wall St research banned
|
Myanmar releases jailed US activist: officials
Soyuz spacecraft lands safely on Kazakh steppe
Amazon allows Kindle application for Mac computers
|
FCC plans to announce broadband agenda
|
Apple director Jerry York dies at 71
|
Creditors want Sex.com in bankruptcy, halt auction
|
'JihadJane' pleads not guilty in domestic terror case
US operations already started in Kandahar: commanders
Obama health plan 'will cut deficit': US Congress
'JihadJane' pleads not guilty in terrorism case
France in big culture push to arts-repressed Saudis
15 years on, Japan film recalls doomsday cult sarin attacks
British hospital to treat Internet-addicted teens
Universal Studios Singapore courts 8 for lucky launch
Singer's musical journey reshaping Portugal's fado
HTC to 'fully defend' itself against Apple patent suit
Kia to build 100-million-euro engine plant in Slovakia
Palestinians struggle to impose settlements boycott
Nestle drops Indonesian company after Greenpeace demos
Japanese land prices fall at fastest pace in five years
Hollywood and Bollywood join arms to fight piracy
Davy Crockett star Fess Parker dies at 85
|
Pakistan aims to raise $500 mln with OGDCL bonds
Pakistan appoints economist Shaikh as finance chief
Pakistan's forex reserves rise to $14.85 bln
Pakistani stocks end up on finance adviser report
Nissan to make Leaf electric cars in Britain
Pakistan arrests ended UN talks with Taliban: ex-envoy
Argentina claims progress for Falkands talks with Britain
Israel strikes in Gaza after deadly rocket
|
Deadly Gaza rocket, air strikes cloud peace talks
US-TECH Summary
Taliban arrests thwart Afghan talks: ex-U.N. envoy
|
British boy arrives home after Pakistan kidnap ordeal
Israel strikes in Gaza after deadly rocket
Google adword win in Europe wouldn't end battles
Chileans' quake knowledge saved thousands of lives
|
Netanyahu, Clinton talk after settlement crisis
Nasty Google-Viacom billion-dollar battle goes public
Israel attack on Iran could ignite Middle East
World Bank OKs record $1.05 billion for Indian schools
|
Palm shares plunge on weak quarterly forecast
Creditors get turned off by sex.com auction
New Zealand's Madoff jailed for $13 million fraud
|
Bomb damages right-wing group's Athens office
|
Google slams Viacom for secret YouTube uploads
Economist not distributed in Thailand over royalty story
|
Desktop computer sales soared in February: NPD Group
Japan to boost Haiti aid to $100 mln: report
Drug Arrest Connected To "Lost Boy's" Death
Rihanna Hits #1 On Billboard Hot 100 With "Rude Boy"
Ludacris Comes Out On Top With "Battle Of The Sexes" On Billboard
US rep: Pa. Jihad Jane terror suspect cooperated
U.S. says driver error possible in NY Prius crash
Beyoncé Joins Alicia Keys On Stage For Special Performance At New York Tour Date
Website's instant posts of Wall Street research banned
|
China official warns of risk from yuan rise
The "Oscar curse," real or Hollywood invention?
China orders crackdown on cooking oil over cancer link
Japan celebrates defeat of bluefin tuna trade ban
Asian countries understanding of Obama trip delay
Alcohol 'worse than drugs' in Pacific: report
Study: Ancient Croc Dined On Dinosaurs
Pakistan arrests halt UN contacts with Taliban
FAA Proposes $300,000 In Additional Penalties Against American Airlines For Poor Maintenance
Google adword win in Europe wouldn't end battles
|
Congress Frustrated by "Virtual Fence" Problems Along Mexican Border
Tryptophan Shown To Reduce Aggression In Pigs
Taylor Swift's "Fearless" Named Most Awarded Album In Country Music History
Jennifer Lopez goes "Overboard"
Sandra Bullock's husband seeks forgiveness
|
Despite ratings wins, Leno still faces hurdles
Cable networks eye Sarah Palin reality show
|
Jennifer Lopez goes Overboard
|
Lady Gaga sued for $30 million by jilted producer
|
Beau Bridges joins Rockford revamp
|
"Life" breathes new vitality into nature series
No deal for Paula Abdul at ABC
|
Graco Recalls 1.2 Million Unstable High Chairs
Public Access To Court Documents Set To Open Up
Polanski lawyers appeal, demand sentencing in absence
|
'Hobbit' filming to start in July: Ian McKellen
British boy arrives home after Pakistan kidnap ordeal
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
UN wildlife body rejects bluefin trade ban
Obama scraps Asia-Pacific trip for healthcare push
Amid Afghan surge, disputed base becomes indispensable
McLaren launches new supercar
India's Bharti says to sell Apple's iPhone 3GS
Thai protesters target hearts and minds of Bangkok
|
Quartet urges Israel to freeze settlement activity
China quality watchdog says some HP laptops faulty
Armenian migrants dragged into politics in Turkey
Quartet hopes package will unlock Middle East talks
|
Iran jails top reformist: opposition website
Russia says Iran letting chances for dialogue slip
|
Democratic Donor Admits To $292 Million Bank Fraud
Losing the battle to keep female flesh off Afghan TV
|
"Barefoot Burglar" Once Again Eludes Authorities
China quality watchdog says some HP laptops faulty
Gay Advocates Detained After White House Rally Against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Pakistan denies arrests thwarted Taliban talks
|
Second Teen Arrested In Florida School Beating Over Text Message Taunt
Rescuers End Search For Pacifica Swimmer
Syrian murder, Israeli planes not linked: official
|
Killer Who Wrote Taunting Letter Executed
Cambodian bans women from marrying South Koreans
UK anti-militant project stirs Muslim unease
|
Rice regrets how US prioritized rebuilding in Iraq
School Officials Condemn Obama Effigy In Classroom
Dutch lash out at gay link in Srebrenica massacre
|
South Carolina Governor Agrees To Pay Fines For Ethics Charges
Thai protesters target "hearts and minds" of Bangkok
Paula Abdul Not Joining "Star Search" Remake
UN issues travel restrictions for staffers to Aceh
Virgin America Eyes Flights To Toronto By Summer
Japan celebrates defeat of bluefin tuna trade ban
Cambodia set to renovate genocide museum
Ore. lawsuit claims Boy Scouts sex abuse coverup
US may extend tanker deadline to allow EADS bid
India seeks to question US terror convict
Calif police department on alert for deadly traps
China imposing financial rules on religious groups
Mideast Quartet meets in Moscow
Obama legacy at stake as health vote looms
Protesters smash, paint Myanmar Embassy in India
Japanese fish dealers welcome tuna ban rejection
Palm's survival questioned
|
China quality watchdog says some HP laptops faulty
|
Deal near for Guantanamo closure, trials: report
Samsung, LG see growth, but know rivals are catching
|
Google may announce China plans next Monday: report
|
China tells Washington to cool yuan pressure
India's Bharti says to sell Apple's iPhone 3GS
|
S.Korean bonds mixed, caution grows after rally
China says HP violated customer rights rules
S.Korea rejects N.Korea threat to seize assets
Middle East Quartet opens Moscow meeting
Taiwan stocks at 8-wk closing high; upside seen limited
Japanese fish dealers welcome tuna ban rejection
New Zealand's 'Madoff' jailed for $13 mln fraud
US leaves open option for more arms sales to Taiwan
China calls on Washington cool yuan pressure
Japan police seek criminal charges in Prius crash
Google to leave China April 10: state media
'Fantasies are real' says director Tim Burton
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Behind "Runaways" film, legal battle simmers
Uruguay is wine world's rising star
No death in the afternoon at S.Korea bullfight
Cable networks eye Sarah Palin reality show
Beau Bridges joins "Rockford" revamp
"South Park" season opener a strong performer
Behind Runaways film, legal battle simmers
|
The Oscar curse, real or Hollywood invention?
|
Despite ratings wins, Leno still faces hurdles
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights