ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed new heads for the key petroleum and privatization portfolios on Friday, both departments seen as central to the country's recovery from an economic crisis.
Former junior finance minister Ali Pervaiz Malik was appointed as petroleum minister in a broader cabinet reshuffle.
His key task will be spearheading a major transaction in the Reko Diq copper and gold project.
Barrick Gold, which owns 50% of the project, is also in talks with railway authorities to revamp Port Qasim's coal terminal for copper transport, CEO Mark Bristow told Pakistan's Dawn News in January.
Muhammad Ali, formerly the special assistant to the prime minister on the power sector, has taken over as adviser for privatization. This follows Pakistan's failed attempt at offloading a 60% stake in debt-ridden airline PIA, which only received a single offer, well below the asking price.
Privatizing PIA and other state-owned enterprises is crucial for raising funds and reforming these entities under the ongoing $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program, set up to address an economic crisis stoked by surging inflation and a trade deficit caused by ballooning energy imports.
Bilal Azhar Kayani will take over as Pakistan's Minister for Railways.
The ministry is in talks with China to upgrade and reconstruct Pakistan's railway network, and develop the Gwadar port, under China's $65 billion investment in Pakistan, part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.
Pakistan names new petroleum, privatization chiefs in cabinet reshuffle
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Pakistan names new petroleum, privatization chiefs in cabinet reshuffle
- New privatization minister’s appointment follows Pakistan's failed attempt at offloading 60% PIA stakes
- A new railway chief has also been appointed, with talks underway with China to upgrade the railway network
Pakistan drop express pacer Rauf from T20 World Cup squad
LAHORE: Pakistan left out express pacer Haris Rauf from the 15-man squad named Sunday for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The 32-year-old finished with 20 wickets in the Big Bash League in Australia but selector Aaqib Javed said Rauf doesn’t fit in the combination.
“Rauf has played a lot of cricket for Pakistan but we kept conditions in Sri Lanka in mind while selecting the squad,” Javed told a news conference.
Rauf is also the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in T20I cricket with 133 in 94 matches.
Salman Agha will lead the squad.
Another pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was declared fit and included in the squad with Naseem Shah and relatively inexperienced Salman Mirza the other fast bowlers in the squad.
Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka and will not travel to India under an agreement decided last year due to political tensions between the two countries.
Pakistan have been placed in Group A with archrivals India, Namibia, Netherlands and United States for the February 7 to March 8 tournament.
Pakistan open their campaign against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7.
In the 20-team tournament, each team are set to play four group games with the top two teams qualifying for the Super Eight Stage.
Changes to T20 World Cup squads can be made for any reason until January 31 and after that with approval from the Event Technical Committee.
In the final build-up for the World Cup, Pakistan will face Australia in a three-match T20I series in Lahore on January 29, 31 and February 1.
Squad: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq
