Jehanzeb Khan, the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, has resigned. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif accepted his resignation and immediately issued a formal notification.
In the wake of this development, the Prime Minister appointed Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal to assume the additional duties of Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. The Establishment Division formalized this decision shortly after through separate notifications.
This reshuffling comes amid reports last month that Ahsan Iqbal had tendered his resignation to the Prime Minister, alleging impediments to his duties. This marked the second occasion Iqbal reportedly offered his resignation, citing similar issues.
Sources suggest that Ahsan Iqbal had prior disagreements with Jehanzeb Khan concerning the operations of the Planning Commission. These disagreements are believed to have contributed to the surrounding media speculation about Iqbal’s resignation.
Ahsan Iqbal is no stranger to the role, having previously served as Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission in the last government and leading Program 2010 under Nawaz Sharif’s second administration.