Islamabad, 03 August 2021

Lt. Gen. (Retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa is replaced by Khalid Mansoor as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on CPEC Affairs with immediate effect. The appointment will be in an honorary capacity.

Bajwa was appointed as Chairman of the CPEC Authority in November 2019 on a four years contract and as  Special Assistant to the prime minister on information and broadcasting.

Bajwa earlier served as Commander Southern Command before his retirement from the army, he served as director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations from 2012 to 2016.

Investigative journalist Ahmed Noorani broke the news in last quarter of 2020 on a website alleging Gen. Bajwa had used his offices in setting up of off-shore businesses of his wife, sons and brothers. The report said Bajwa’s younger brothers opened their first Papa John’s pizza restaurant in 2002,then Lt. Col. Bajwa was working in the staff of the military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharaf who supported US led allied forces in the invasion of neighboring Afghanistan.

However, Bajwa had stepped down as SAPM on Information & Broadcasting rejecting the charges. He produced documents about his family business and presented to the prime minister, who asked him to continue working as CPEC Chairman.

Khalid Mansoor, by education as chemical engineer has more than 32 years of experience in energy and petrochemical sectors, served as a director of the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC).

He served as the chief executive of the Hub Power Company Limited (Hubco) and is the Chairman of Laraib Energy Limited, a subsidiary of Hubco.

He has also served as Chief Executive Officer, Algeria Oman Fertiliser Company (AOA) and prior to that as president and CEO of Engro Fertilisers Limited, Engro Powergen Qadirpur Limited (EPQL), Engro Powergen Limited (EPL) and SECMC.