Islamabad:
After completing a year in office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to expand the Federal Cabinet by inducing 20 new ministers, ministers of state and advisors, Las Fuentes revealed on Tuesday. The new ministers, mainly from the ruling Muslim League of Pakistan-Nawaz (PML-N), will also include members of Allied parties. The oath taking ceremony is expected to take place before the weekend, on February 27 or 28.
According to the sources, those who will probably will be appointed as federal ministers and ministers of state include Hanif Abbasi, Dr. Tariq Fazal, Barrimer Aqeel, Huzaifa Rehman, Talal Chaudhry, AFZAL KHOKHAR, ABDUL REHMAN KANJO, SARDAR YOUSAF, NOHEN IFTIKHAR, ROMINA KHURSHID – Alamid , Says Hayat Hiraj, and Chaudhry Riaz. Mustafa Kamal of the Muttahida Qaumi-Pakistan movement (MQM-P) is expected to become the Minister of Science and Technology, while Khalid Magsi of the Baluchistan Awami Party (BAP) is likely to be appointed Minister of Communications. Other names that are considered for cabinet positions include Ali Zahid Chaudhry, Junaid Rana, Mubashir Iqbal and Bilal Azhar Kayani.
In addition, former bureaucrat Dr. Tauqir Hussain Shah, a nearby associate of Shehbaz Sharif, will be appointed advisor. Dr. Shah previously served as the main secretary of Shehbaz before joining the World Bank. He recently resigned from his position there to return to government service.
Although the official announcement of the ministerial portfolios will be held after the oath taking ceremony, the sources indicate that Hanif Abbasi is appointed to be appointed Minister of Railways, while Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry is likely Minister of National Health Services.
At present, the federal cabinet consists of 19 ministers, two ministers of state and an advisor. In addition, there is a special assistant for the prime minister who has the status of a State Minister, together with six coordinators for the Prime Minister. With the new appointments, the cabinet will expand significantly, which reflects the government’s effort to strengthen governance and coalition unit.
