Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday doubled the size of the federal cabinet, increasing its strength from 25 to 50 members. The expansion includes the appointment of 12 federal ministers, nine ministers of state, three advisers to the prime minister, and four special assistants to the prime minister (SAPMs).
The Cabinet Division issued notifications confirming the appointments, with three advisers being granted the status of federal ministers and four SAPMs elevated to the status of ministers of state. Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik and Shaza Fatima Khawaja were also promoted to federal ministers.
Among the new appointees, three Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from the twin cities were included in the expanded cabinet: Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary and Hanif Abbasi as federal ministers, and Barrister Aqeel Malik as a minister of state.
The newly sworn-in federal ministers include Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Rana Mubashar Iqbal, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Muhammad Mueen Wattoo, Muhammad Junaid Anwar, Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj (PML-N), Syed Mustafa Kamal (MQM), Muhammad Aurangzeb Khan Khichi (dissident PTI MNA), and Khalid Hussain Magsi (Balochistan Awami Party).
All nine ministers of state belong to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), including Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan, Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju, Aqeel Malik, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Kesoo Mal Kheal Das, Mohammad Awn Saqlain, Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, Talal Chaudhry, and Wajiha Qamar. Mukhtar Ahmad Malik previously served as the prime minister’s coordinator on National Health Services.
The advisers to the prime minister include Dr. Tauqir Hussain Shah, Muhammad Ali, and Pervez Khattak (PTI Parliamentarians). Dr. Tauqir Hussain Shah, who previously served as the principal secretary to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was brought back to strengthen the government after his retirement. Muhammad Ali, one of the new advisers, was previously serving as an SAPM.
The newly appointed SAPMs include Haroon Akhtar, Huzaifa Rehman, Mubarak Zeb (Independent MNA), and Talha Burki.
President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath of office to the new federal ministers and ministers of state at a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr. The event was attended by leaders of mainstream political parties, parliamentarians, and senior government officials.
