World Bank Man Gets Finance Post

World Bank vice-president Javed Burki, a Pakistani national, will be adviser to the Finance Ministry but in charge of finance, economic affairs and planning, a senior government official said.

He (Burki) is going to join the government, the official said. He will be adviser for finance, economic affairs and planning, and be effectively in charge of these divisions of the government.

Under World Bank rules, Burki, who would take temporary leave from his post at the Washington-based development bank, could not accept the finance minister position, said the official, who asked not to be identified. The official said there was no need for a finance minister in the interim government, which took office on Tuesday.

 

With elections set for February 3, 1997, Burki has less than three months to try to turn around the economy, saddled by burdensome debt, a burgeoning trade deficit and high inflation.