Ahad Cheema
Ahad Cheema | |
|---|---|
| Federal Minister of Economic Affairs | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2024 | |
| President | Asif Ali Zardari |
| Prime Minister | Shehbaz Sharif |
| Member of Senate of Pakistan | |
| Assumed office 4 April 2024 | |
| Advisor to PM in Establishment Division | |
| In office 10 August 2023 – 26 December 2023 | |
| President | Arif Alvi |
| Prime Minister | Anwaar ul Haq Kakar |
| Army Chief | Qamar Javed Bajwa Asim Munir |
Ahad Khan Cheema is a retired Pakistani bureaucrat who is the current Federal Minister of Economic Affairs, appointed on 11 March 2024.[1][2][3] Previously, he has served as a chief executive officer (CEO) of the Quaid-e-Azam Thermal Power Company and director-general of the Lahore Development Authority.[4] In 2018, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Cheema on charges related to irregularities in the Ashiana Housing Scheme project during his time as chairman of the LDA.[5] The investigation also involved former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's principal secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad and Shehbaz Sharif.[5] Cheema was released on bail in 2021 after spending three years in jail and was acquitted of all charges by the NAB in 2023.[5] He took retirement from civil service in January 2023.[6]
Early life and education
[edit]Ahad Cheema was born into a Punjabi Jat family of the Cheema clan in Hafizabad, Punjab, Pakistan to an agricultural family.[4]
He studied Economic and Political Science at the University of the Punjab and later the London School of Economics.[7]
After completing his education, he joined Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) in 2001.[4][6]
Professional career
[edit]Cheema has served in executive positions as chief executive officer (CEO), director or board member of companies such as Pakistan Telecommunication Co. Ltd, Pak Arab Refinery Ltd and Quaid-e-Azam Thermal Power (Pvt) Ltd.[7]
Administration career
[edit]Under Pervaiz Elahi
[edit]In 2005, Cheema was selected by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi to manage the Parah Likha Punjab project, a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at increasing literacy in Punjab.[4]
Under Shehbaz Sharif
[edit]Cheema has been part of Shehbaz Sharif's ministry since 2008, when Sharif first became the Chief Minister of Punjab.[5] During Sharif's tenure as Chief Minister, Cheema served as the Deputy Commissioner of Lahore as well as the Director General of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA).[5]
In 2012, Cheema was chosen by the chief minister to oversee and monitor the Lahore Metro Bus System (MBS) project.[4] As the director general of the LDA from March 2012, Cheema completed the project in a record time of 11 months.[4] In recognition of his outstanding services in constructing the Lahore metro, he received the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz from the President of Pakistan.[4] Later, due to this project, he became known in bureaucratic circles as the "metro man".[4]
Political career
[edit]Advisor to the Prime Minister
[edit]In 2023, Cheema was appointed as the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Establishment Division following Shehbaz Sharif's appointment as Prime Minister of Pakistan.[5] He continued to serve in this role during the caretaker government after Sharif's term ended in the Kakar caretaker ministry.[8] However, the Election Commission of Pakistan ordered the caretaker government to remove Cheema from the caretaker cabinet following a petition filed against him.[5] The President of Pakistan approved his removal in December 2023.[5]
Federal Minister of Economic Affairs
[edit]On 11 March 2024, Cheema assumed the role of Federal Minister of Economic Affairs within the cabinet led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.[1] Notably, Cheema was appointed to the federal cabinet prior to being elected as a member of parliament.[9]
Controversies
[edit]Ashiana Housing Scheme
[edit]In 2018, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Cheema on charges related to irregularities in the Ashiana Housing Scheme project during his time as chairman of the LDA.[5] The investigation also involved former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's principal secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad and Shehbaz Sharif.[5] Cheema was released on bail in 2021 after spending three years in jail and was acquitted of all charges by the NAB in 2023.[5] He took retirement from civil service in January 2023.[6]
Aitchison Principal's Resignation
[edit]On March 25, 2024, Michael A. Thompson, the Australian principal of Aitchison College, resigned, citing interference by the Governor's House in college administration. Reports suggest his resignation was influenced by a dispute over fee waivers, involving Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman granting leave and a three-year fee waiver to the sons of Cheema.[10]
In June 2022, Cheema's wife, a civil servant, requested a fee waiver for their sons due to her transfer to Islamabad. She sought a leave of absence, but the principal denied the fee waiver, citing policy. Governor Rehman intervened on March 21, 2024, granting the sons a leave of absence with a full fee waiver, sparking the principal's resignation and raising concerns about political interference in the college's administration.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "New finance minister appointed".
- ^ "Shehbaz Sharif allocates portfolios to federal ministers".
- ^ "19-member federal cabinet takes oath". 11 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Butt, Tariq (February 23, 2018). "Who is Ahad Cheema". The News International.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "شہباز شریف کی 19 رُکنی کابینہ میں شامل 'نئے چہرے' کون ہیں؟" [Who are the 'new faces' in Shehbaz Sharif's 19-member cabinet?]. BBC Urdu. March 11, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Disillusioned Punjab officer Ahad Khan Cheema bids farewell to civil service". 4 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Profile". Market Screener. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024.
- ^ "President Alvi approves Ahad Cheema's removal as PM's adviser". 25 December 2023.
- ^ Editorial (2024-03-12). "PDM redux". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
- ^ a b Gabol, Imran (2024-03-26). "Controversy erupts as Aitchison principal resigns over governor's interference". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-04-01.