ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday doubled the federal cabinet strength, taking the total strength from 25 to 50, with the appointment of 12 federal ministers, nine ministers of state, three advisers to the prime minister and four special assistants to the prime minister (SAPM).
Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik and Shaza Fatima Khawaja were elevated as the federal ministers.
The newly appointed adviser, Muhammad Ali, was previously serving as an SAPM. According to the notifications, issued by the Cabinet Division, three advisers have been given the status of federal ministers and four SAPMs the status of ministers of state.
The prime minister has chosen three MNAs from twin cities for the expanded federal cabinet including Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary and Hanif Abbasi as the federal ministers, and Barrister Aqeel Malik as a minister of state.
Newly-appointed 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, and 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 the ministers of state belong to the PMLN 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 was previously serving as a coordinator to the prime minister on National Health Services.
Advisers to the Prime Minister include: Dr Tauqir Hussain Shah, Muhammad Ali and Pervez Khattak (PTI Parliamentarians).
Dr Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah previously served as principal secretary to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. On retirement, he was given one-year extension. Later, the PM called and asked him to resign and give a strength to the government. The newly-appointed Adviser Muhammad Ali was previously serving as an SAPM. The SAPMs include Haroon Akhtar, Huzaifa Rehman, Mubarak Zeb (Independent MNA) and Talha Burki.
President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday administered oath of office to new federal ministers and ministers of state at a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday.
The newly sworn-in federal ministers included: Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Khalid Hussain Magsi, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Muhammad Mueen Wattoo, Muhammad Junaid Anwar, Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Rana Mubashar Iqbal, and Syed Mustafa Kamal.
The ministers of state, who took the oath included: Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan, Aqeel Malik, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Kesoo Mal Kheal Das, Mohammad Awn Saqlain, Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, Talal Chaudhry, and Wajiha Qamar. Leadership of mainstream political parties, parliamentarians and senior government officials attended the event.
With expansion, the Federal Cabinet now comprises 30 federal ministers, nine ministers of state, four advisers to prime minister with status of federal ministers and seven special assistants to prime minister with status of ministers of state.
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