Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi highlighted his misgivings over the foreign ministry not being included among the top slots, challenging the grading methodology, a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan presented top-performing ministries and divisions with appreciation certificates.
PM Imran welcomed Communications Minister Murad Saeed on his promotion to the top job, saying the youngest member of his cabinet had done admirably.
Communications, planning and development, poverty alleviation and social safety division; education and professional training; human rights, industries and production; national security division; commerce; interior, and national food security and research are the top ministries in terms of performance.
Later in the day, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), remarked that the prime minister had done Multan a huge damage by not granting a certificate to FM Qureshi, who was born in the city, while distributing achievement awards to his “lackeys.”
“On the one hand, the government brags about its successful foreign policy and the recent Chinese visit, but the foreign minister is denied a certificate.”
Qureshi highlighted his dissatisfaction with the foreign ministry’s 11th rank in a letter to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Establishment Mohammad Shehzad Arbab.
During the first quarter, he said, the foreign ministry met 22 of the 26 targets set out in the performance agreement and 18 of the 24 targets set out in the performance agreement, adding that the ministry also carried out high-level operations.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs raises concerns about the grading system. It should be made clear whatever system was used to grade ministries “In the letter, the foreign minister went on to say more.
FM Qureshi responded to Bilawal’s words in a statement, saying that Bilawal still has some childhood left in him and that he is given written notes that he simply reads.
“With time, Bilawal would realise that criticism will not be enough to make South Punjab a province,” he added.
Earlier, the foreign minister had encouraged President Shehbaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Bilawal to work together on legislation for the new South Punjab state.
Qureshi’s letter, sent as vice-chairperson of the ruling PTI, was a follow-up to a letter issued on January 19 that brought attention to the long-standing and crucial issue of the creation of a distinct province of South Punjab.
“I urged you to provide feedback on the path ahead for attaining consensus on the formulation of a Constitution amendment bill for the creation of a separate province of South Punjab as Vice-Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.” In addition, I proposed the nomination of two members to serve on a committee charged with drafting a proposed amendment bill for parliament,” the letter added.
