Former PML-N senator Haroon Akhtar briefed on economy to PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Where the government is facing difficulties in raising additional income with the fast-growing economy, the situation has come to a halt when former PML-N Senator Haroon Akhtar Khan called for a meeting on impossible revenue targets.

Haroon Akhtar Khan gave a briefing to the Prime Minister, and on the same day, there was news of the departure of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi.

Reliable sources in the prime minister's office told that Haroon Akhtar Khan, the younger brother of Humayun Akhtar Khan, who was contesting the absence of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), from the price hike to the slowdown in gross domestic product. Was invited to express his views on the matter.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister's Adviser to the Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Advisor to Commerce Abdul Razzaq Dawood and Minister for Planning, Asad Umar, in which the Prime Minister reportedly attributed policy failures to one of the reasons for an inflation in the country.

When briefed by a former PML-N senator, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, when asked for comment, he considered the meeting as less important and said, "There are many such meetings."

He said that "he (Haroon Akhtar Khan) had some good ideas for the economy and he also has experience in revenue matters", but he dismissed any change in the post.

With this, the Advisor Finance neither denied nor confirmed that Haroon Akhtar Khan was offered the post of Advisor Revenue, which is currently with the Advisor Finance.

According to sources, Prime Minister Imran Khan also met alone with Haroon Akhtar, and during that meeting, the Prime Minister reportedly offered him the post of Revenue Minister or Advisor.

It may be recalled that Haroon Akhtar Khan was the Minister of Revenue during the PML-N government;

However, some history influences decisions such as Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh's advisor to the post of Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs immediately after the government wanted to give Hammad Azhar, the Minister of Revenue whose budget was addressed by the Federal Minister of Revenue. There was a possibility of taking over the position, but the decision was suddenly withdrawn, and the Post was again given to Hafiz Sheikh.

Similarly, tensions between Chairman FBR and Hafeez Sheikh arose when Shabbar Zaidi began reporting directly to the Prime Minister on revenue issues.

The important thing is that the Adviser Finance was never formally invited to the FBR only on the first day of this year he visited and expressed dissatisfaction with the Revenue Board's performance.

On the other hand, sources at the Prime Minister's Secretariat confirmed that the search for a replacement for Shabbar Zaidi has begun.

Meanwhile, Shabbar Zaidi also confirmed that he had asked the Prime Minister to seek an alternative to the post, but he had not yet resigned and if the Prime Minister accepted his offer, he will give someone's name for the post