Karachi: Former Governor of State Bank of Pakistan Dr Shamshad Akhtar has been appointed caretaker Finance Minister, it was learnt. Development comes as process of appointing key members of Cabinet under caretake Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq continues amid widespread speculation. Earlier this week, Dr Akhtar was conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz by President Dr Arif Alvi on Independence Day.

She served as SBP governor from January 2, 2006 for three-year term, becoming first woman to head country's central bank. Prior to her appointment as SBP governor, Dr Akhtar served Asian Development Bank as its Director General, Southeast Asia Department since January, 2004. Earlier, she was Deputy Director General of Department. She held position of Director, Governance, Finance and Trade Division for East and Central Asia Department of ADB. Born in Hyderabad, Dr Akhtar received her early education at Karachi and Islamabad. She graduated from University of Punjab with B.A Economics degree in 1974.

Dr Akhtar has M.Sc. in Economics from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, an M.A. in Development Economics from University of Sussex in 1977 and Ph.D. in Economics from U.K.'s Paisley College of Technology in 1980. She is post-doctoral fellowship Fulbright Scholar and was visiting fellow at Department of Economics, Harvard University in 1987. She has served as chairperson of board of directors at Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 17 2023

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