Shibli Faraz becomes Information Minister, Asim Bajwa replaces Dr Firdous

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shibli Faraz has been appointed as Federal Information Minister, while China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Chairman and former DG ISPR Lt Gen (r) Asim Bajwa made Special Assistant to PM on Media.

Last year, the government had appointed Lt Gen (r) Asim Saleem Bajwa as chairman of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority (CPECA).

According to a notification issued by the Establishment Division, the competent authority appointed Lt Gen (r) Bajwa as chairman of the CPECA, which comes under the planning and development ministry. “The new chairperson will get MP-I scale for a period of four years from the date of assuming the charge of the office with immediate effect and until further orders,” it stated.

Retired Lt Gen Bajwa had served as Commander Southern Command before his retirement. He remained director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations from 2012 to 2016.

The government had established the CPECA through an ordinance in October, before the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Beijing. The basic aim of forming the authority is to ensure timely completion of the CPEC projects. The prime minister had said the CPECA will help ensure coordination among the departments concerned.

The authority had reportedly been given vast powers to summon any information related to CPEC activities and impose penalties on those who fail to do so.

Meanwhile, Shibli Faraz is serving as the Leader of the House in the Senate.