Tuesday, thirty-one federal ministers and three ministers of state took an oath to form the new and much-awaited cabinet of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The ceremony took place at Aiwan-i-Sadr.
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani administered the oath to the ministers as President Dr. Arif Alfi excused himself from performing his constitutional duty. Interestingly, this is the second time that President Dr. Arif Alvi failed to perform his duty for the new government. Earlier, he skipped Shehbaz Sharif’s oath-taking ceremony as the prime minister owing to “medical discomfort”. However, the President approved the appointment of the ministers.
As per details, 14 federal ministers are from PML-N, nine from PPP, four from JUI-F, two are from MQM-P and one belongs to Jamhoori Watan Party.
From PML-N, the federal ministers are; Khawaja Muhammad Asif; Ahsan Iqbal; Rana Sanaullah; Sardar Ayaz Sadiq; Rana Tanveer Hussain; Khurram Dastgir Khan; Marriyum Aurangzeb; Khawaja Saad Rafique;Miftah Ismail; Javed Latif; Riaz Hussain Pirzada; Murtaza Javed Abbasi;and Azam Nazeer Tarar.
Read more: PML-N govt. refuses to increase petrol prices
Meanwhile, from PPP, Syed Khursheed Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman, Abdul Qadir Patel, Shazia Marri, Syed Murtaza Mahmud, Sajid Hussain Turi, Ehsan Ur Rehman Mazari, and Abid Hussain took the oath as federal ministers.
Additionally, ministers from JUI-F are; Asad Mahmood; Abdul Wasay; Abdul Shakoor; Muhammad Talha Mahmood. Meanwhile, from MQM-P Aminul Haque and Faisal Sabzwari took the oath as federal ministers. Muhammad Israr Taree from BAP, Nawabzada Shazain Bugti from JWP, and Tariq Bashir Cheema from PML-Q took the oath.
Distribution of ministries
Furthermore, the president approved the appointment of Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Hina Rabbani Khar, and Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju as ministers of state. Moreover, the President also approved the appointment of Qamar Zaman Kaira, Engr Amir Muqam, and Aun Chaudhry as advisors to the prime minister.
Read more: Auon Chaudhry becomes part of Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet
The distribution of ministries is yet to be finalized. However, according to initial reports, PPP’s Khurshid Shah will receive the portfolio of Water and Power. Whereas, Naveed Qamar will receive the portfolio of Commerce. Meanwhile, Sherry Rehman will get Climate Change and Abdul Qadir Patel National Health.
Thank u @QuatrinaHosain I just did a quick round of this ministry. Does not even have a Secretary right now. Like several others. Will have to fix that. Pakistan is the 5th most vulnerable country in the world to climate stress but we have done little to raise public awareness https://t.co/z3IUFKSI1o
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) April 19, 2022
Similarly, Shazia Marri will be given the portfolio of Benazir Income Support Programme. However, Murtaza Mahmud will get Industries, and Sajid Hussain Turi Overseas Pakistanis.
Likewise, Abid Hussain Bhayo is to be given the portfolio of Privatisation, whereas Ehsan-ur-Rehman Mazari will be the Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination.
Furthermore, Hina Rabbani Khar will be the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and, lastly, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar will be the Minister of State for Law.
Initially, there was uncertainty about PPP joining the federal cabinet. However, PPP Chairman Asif Zardari clarified that they wanted the alliances to be accommodated first.