According to sources cited by Geo News, Pakistan’s federal cabinet is scheduled to be sworn in on Monday after several days of consultations on its composition.
As per sources, the oath-taking event is slated to occur at the President’s House, with newly elected President Asif Ali Zardari overseeing the oath. Initially, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif planned for a compact cabinet; however, additional ministers are set to be inducted in the subsequent phase, the sources disclosed.
According to the sources, former finance minister Ishaq Dar is expected to assume the role of foreign minister in the upcoming cabinet, while Tariq Fatemi will be sworn in as a special assistant to the prime minister on foreign affairs.
Additionally, Aurangzeb Khan is set to oversee the Finance Ministry, while former Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi will take charge of the Interior Ministry, as reported by Geo News. Furthermore, the Ministry of Law is expected to be entrusted to veteran Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Azam Tarar. Attaullah Tarar is slated to become the information minister, and Khawaja Asif will lead the Defense Ministry, according to the sources.
According to the sources, the Petroleum Ministry portfolio will be assigned to Musadik Malik, and Shaza Fatima Khawaja will head the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. Additionally, Ahad Cheema is set to be appointed as an adviser to the prime minister for the Establishment Division. Former Balochistan CM Jam Kamal and PML-Quaid’s Chaudhry Salik Hussain are also reported to join the federal cabinet, as per Geo News.
IPP leader Abdul Aleem Khan and PML-N politician Amir Muqam are anticipated to be included in the federal cabinet as well.
Furthermore, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) is set to be allocated two ministries in the federal cabinet.
The oath ceremony follows a week after Prime Minister Shehbaz took office as the 24th premier of the country, while President Zardari was sworn in as the head of state just a day earlier.