ZAHEER ABBASI

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Finance, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, has assumed the charge of his office following the issuance of a notification in this regard by the Cabinet Division Tuesday.

A notification issued by the Cabinet Division sated, “In exercise of powers conferred by the Constitution, the President, on the advice of the Prime Minister, has been pleased to appoint Member National Assembly (MNA) Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan as minister of state. He will hold the portfolio of finance and economic affairs as allocated by the Prime Minister.”

Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan was administered the oath of office by the President Tuesday, December 26, added the notification.

After assuming the charge, the minister of state for finance stated as this is the last year of the government and he will make sure that various ongoing projects are completed timely for taking the GDP growth to the next higher level.

The minister, according to an official, identified four challenges to the economy and expressed the resolve to find solutions to trade imbalance, fiscal deficit, depleting foreign exchange reserves and inflation.

He also thanked the leadership for reposing trust in him and allocating him a very important portfolio. He further stated that he has been giving a helping hand to the finance minister as parliamentary secretary on finance during the last four years of the present government in the budget preparation exercise.

A statement issued by the Finance Division stated that Afzal is reasonably familiar with the economic challenges of the country and will work to resolve them under Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Sources said that Rana Afzal joined the office to deal with routine business of the Ministry of Finance and the Economic Affairs Division before departing for a meeting of the cabinet presided over by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is holding the portfolio of federal finance minister.