ISLAMABAD: The Finance Ministry has constituted an 11-member Governing Council as a step to reorganise the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) which may also lead to process of census in the country.
The Governing Council will be responsible for setting of objectives and policy guidelines of the Bureau in accordance with the powers and functions provided in the Act, to provide guidance and oversee the management and administrative affairs of the Bureau as well as to review and approve policies and annual work plans relating to the aims and objectives of the Bureau and prioritise programmes.
As per official documents available with this scribe, Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dare is ex-officio chairman and Chief Statistician Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Asif Bajwa is Secretary ex-officio of the Governing Council while other members include Secretary Statistics Division Shahid Rashid Ex-officio member, Vice Chancellor Gujrat University, Gujrat Prof. Muhammad Nizamuddin, former Governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr Ishrat Hussain, Country Director Population Council (Pakistan Office) Islamabad Dr. Zeba A Sathar, Vice Chancellor Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Dr. Asad Zaman, Professor.of Economics Lahore School of Economics Lahore Dr. Naved Hamid, former Professor Agha Khan University Karachi Dr. Mehtab S Karim, economist Dr. Eshya Mujahid Mukhtar and Mohsin Hassan Khan
A well-placed source at Finance Ministry told this scribe about the obligations of the Governing Council and said that the council would formulate procedures for allocation and utilization of funds generated or acquired through services, donations or grants, etc and to approve the annual financial budget of the Bureau and recommend to the Federal Government.
“It will also approve and make regulations on behalf of the Bureau subject to the provisions of the Act, to review the performance of committees constituted under the law and perform such other acts, deeds and things as may be necessary and incidental,” the source observed.
Similarly the source said that the council would execute functions of the Bureau and the general and overall direction, management, control and superintendence of the affairs of the Bureau shall vest in the Governing Council and all actions, decisions, guidelines, directions, orders and policies made or issued by the Governing Council in the exercise of the said powers and functions shall be sent to the Bureau for compliance and implementation.
“As per Act, members have been appointed for a term of three years, however, they will be eligible for reappointment for one additional term not exceeding three years,” the source added.
