PMO sets three-day deadline for ministries to fill vacant positions on boards of directors

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has given ministries and divisions a three-day deadline to fill vacant positions on the Boards of Directors (BoDs) of entities under their control, Business Recorder reported, citing sources.

The directive was issued following a dispute between Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and the PMO regarding the position of Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Shakeel Mangnejo, who held a BoD role at Pakistan Reinsurance Company Limited (PRCL). 

A letter from the Adviser to the Prime Minister, Dr. Syed Tauqeer Hussain Shah, dated July 24, 2025, conveyed the PM’s directives to ministries. The PMO's letter came shortly after this disagreement and stresses the urgent need to complete board compositions.

The letter emphasized that all ministries must finalize their Boards and convene Board Nomination Committee (BNC) meetings within three days, with summaries submitted for the Prime Minister’s approval the following week.

Dr. Shah highlighted the PM's concern regarding the current vacancy status on the Boards of Public Sector Entities (PSEs). Despite repeated reminders from the PMO, many boards remain incomplete, with both regular and casual positions still vacant.

The PM’s Adviser stressed that completing the Boards of Directors is critical for the effective functioning of Public Sector Entities. To expedite the process, the Cabinet Division has been instructed to present any summaries awaiting Federal Cabinet approval in the next Cabinet meeting. 

Additionally, the filling of casual vacancies must be prioritized, and appropriate action should be taken to ensure they are filled swiftly.

The PM has emphasized the need for all vacant positions to be filled within one month to ensure smooth operations of these public entities.