In a first, foreign minister replaces finance minister in CCI

By
Web Desk

March 29, 2024

PM Shehbaz Sharif presides over the 50th meeting of the Council of Common Interests in Islamabad on August 5, 2023. — cci.gov.pk
PM Shehbaz Sharif presides over the 50th meeting of the Council of Common Interests in Islamabad on August 5, 2023. — cci.gov.pk

  • Body’s reconstitution done on advice of president.
  • Notification is issued after PM Shehbaz's approval.
  • CCI is largest decision-making forum of Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved reconstitution of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) on Friday, replacing the finance minister with the foreign minister.

President Asif Ali Zardari, on the advice of PM Shehbaz, constituted the eight-member CCI under Article 153 of the Constitution, said a notification. 

The CCI is being headed by PM Shehbaz and all four chief ministers are among the council’s members. 

The notification read that Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Safron Minister Amir Muqam are also included in the CCI.

The notification of the constitution of Council of Common Interests.
The notification of the constitution of Council of Common Interests. 

The CCI is the largest decision-making forum of the country which decides all those matters, including distribution of natural resources, upon which there is a disagreement between the centre and provinces. 

This is not the first instance that PM Shehbaz has snubbed the finance minister and given a task to Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Last week, PM Shehbaz constituted six separate cabinet committees on economic coordination, energy, Chinese investment projects, privatisation, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and disposal of legislative cases.

In his decision, the PM decided to keep the ECC with himself while he tasked Foreign Minister Dar to head the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation.

Traditionally these committees have been headed by the finance minister.

However, a day after the announcement and receiving backlash PM Shehbaz reshuffled the ECC and tasked Finance Minister Aurangzeb as head of the key economic body.