Haseeb Drabu is Chairman of north zone finance ministers' panel

Jammu, March 23: Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu was on Thursday appointed as Chairman of the Empowered Committee of Finance Ministers of North Zone, an official statement here said.

"According to a communique issued by the Inter-State Council Secretariat here, Drabu will be heading the Empowered Committee of the Finance Ministers of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir," it said.

A professional economist with a doctorate in Economics, Drabu is credited with initiating radical reforms to bring systemic changes in the fiscal management of J&K, the statement said.

"Before joining politics, Drabu has been involved with national economic policy making in India for seven years at the highest level, including in the Planning Commission, Finance Commission and the Economic Advisory Council of the Prime Minister," it said.

Drabu worked as the Economic Advisor to the Government of J&K for seven years. He also headed J&K Bank as Chairman and Chief Executive for five years.

"Drabu has been advising a clutch of top Indian corporates on the macroeconomic situation, emerging businesses and risk management. He has expertise in macro and monetary policy, banking and finance operations, fund management, corporate advisory and business journalism.

"Besides serving as national editor of Business Standard, Drabu has been a regular commentator on economic issues and used to write a fortnightly column for Wall Street Journal partner in India, the business daily, Mint," the statement read.