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Pakistan’s HBL CEO Aurangzeb resigns from bank, letter to bourse shows

He took oath an oath to join federal cabinet
Former HBL CEO Muhammad Aurangzeb sits next to PML-N leader Musadiq Malik at the oath taking ceremony in Islamabad on March 11, 2024. Screengrab via YouTube/PTV News
Former HBL CEO Muhammad Aurangzeb sits next to PML-N leader Musadiq Malik at the oath taking ceremony in Islamabad on March 11, 2024. Screengrab via YouTube/PTV News

Pakistan’s HBL President and CEO, Muhammad Aurangzeb resigned from his position as leader of the country’s largest bank, HBL said in a letter to the stock exchange, shortly after Aurangzeb took an oath to join the government as a minister.

Sources said he was set to be appointed finance minister.

“Mr. Muhammad Aurangzeb, has tendered his resignation to the Board of Directors of Habib Bank Limited (“HBL”) and shall step down as President and Chief Executive Officer of HBL. The Board of Directors of HBL has accepted his resignation, subject to the approval of the State Bank of Pakistan,” read the notice.

The notice to the bourse added that Nassir Salim, current chief operating officer of HBL, has been appointed as president and CEO of the bank, subject to approval from the regulator.

Sharif has included Aurangzeb in the cabinet and he will be given the portfolio of finance minister, according to two sources - one in Sharif’s party and the other in the prime minister’s office.

Aurangzeb was picked over several veterans previously involved in handling the $350 billion economy, including four-time finance minister Ishaq Dar, as the country looks to plot a path out of its economic difficulties.

Dar was also named a federal minister and is likely to get the foreign ministry portfolio, the two sources said.

Pakistan’s current International Monetary Fund programme expires next month, and Sharif has said his government would look to negotiate a new, longer term bailout to keep the country’s economy stable amidst high inflation and external financing requirements.

The new cabinet was sworn in at a ceremony on Monday where the oaths were administered by newly elected President Asif Ali Zardari, over a month since the Feb. 8 national election.

A letter, seen by Reuters, sent by Sharif to the president for the appointment of the cabinet showed a list of 19 names, including Aurangzeb and Dar. There was only one woman’s name on the list, proposed as a state - or junior - minister.

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The portfolios of the new ministers are yet to be announced officially.

Aurangzeb does not have a seat in parliament but local laws say he can hold a post of minister for a maximum of six months without one.

The sources told Reuters that Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party planned to give Aurangzeb a Senate seat soon.

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Muhammad Aurangzeb

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