ISLAMABAD: The portfolio of federal minister for Revenue Division has been taken back from Hammad Azhar a day after he was appointed to the post, a notification on Wednesday said.
According to the notification by the Cabinet Division, “Hammad Azhar will hold the portfolio of Economic Affairs Division, with immediate effect, as allocated by the prime minister in terms of rule 3(4) of the Rules of Business, 1973.”
The notification further said, the prime minister has also approved that Adviser to the PM Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh shall cease to hold the portfolio of Economic Affairs Division, with immediate effect.
The notification added, the earlier allocated portfolio of Revenue Division to Hammad Azhar, Federal Minister and cessation of portfolio of Revenue Division by Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs may be treated as withdrawn.
A day earlier, Azhar took oath as a federal minister in Islamabad. President Dr Arif Alvi had administered the oath at a ceremony in Aiwan-e-Sadr to Azhar.
Last month, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government passed a Rs7,022 billion austerity budget for the fiscal year 2019-20, setting ambitious tax collection targets to stabilise the economy. The budget was presented in the National Assembly by Azhar.
PM Imran had indicated his decision to promote Azhar to federal minister during the budget session, praising his work in getting the budget passed.
