Ex-banker Haseeb Drabu takes over new Finance Minister of J&K

Armed with vast experience in the financial domain, Haseeb Drabu, an economist and former chairman of J&K Bank, today took over as new the new Finance Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Drabu arrived at the Civil Secretariat this morning and took charge of the department of the Finance, Labour Employment and Culture amid welcome by the officials of and PDP leaders.
"I am happy that a major responsibility has been given to me by the party. I will work hard to come up to the expectation and try to strength the economic structure of the State," Drabu told PTI.
PDP's Drabu, who was the chief negotiator from the party, was appointed as the new Finance Minister besides holding the portfolio of Labour, Employment and Culture Minister.

After assuming charge of office at Civil Secretariat here in the morning, Drabu chaired a meeting with top officials of the Department of Finance including its Field departments and Directorates.
Drabu had extensive discussions with Principal Secretary Finance B B Vyas and other officials on the financial situation of the state and reviewed the status of preparation of the Budget and plan for the next financial year.

The Finance Minister said that he would like the Budget to have a 'human approach' so that it is understood and appreciated by common man.
He urged officers to look beyond figures while preparing the budget and to focus on substance, touching lives of the people.

"I want to capture wisdom of the common people," he said and added that it should be looked into more innovatively and sensitively.
Drabu, who holds a PhD degree in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, was part of the PDP negotiation team that held talks with BJP over the formation of government in the state.