Pakistan Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin stepped down Tuesday to focus on his family business. Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani accepted his resignation during Tarin's call on to him, said an official statement. Gilani appreciated Tarin's contribution in turning around the sliding national economy. He hoped that Tarin would continue to extend his valuable advice to the government as and when needed. In his resignation Tarin said that he had resigned to focus on his family business and he could not do so precisely since it would be clear conflict of interest while serving as finance minister. He, however, assured to extend his services and advise to government. Gilani said that in order to ensure the continuity of policies the government would like to acquire the services of Tarin in the National Economic Advisory Council. Tarin would continue to work as minister till Feb 28. “It is our duty, we should not mix up our official duties and personal business,” Tarin told Dunya Television. “I have shares in a (Pakistani) bank and will now concentrate more on my business,” he said. A banker by profession, Tarin initially joined the Cabinet headed by Gilani as an adviser, but was elevated to the position of finance minister about 16 months ago. He was credited with negotiating a $11.5 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund in 2008 that helped Pakistan avoid a financial crisis.
