Expansion and Reshuffling of Cabinet: Prime Minister Completes Consultations
Islamabad Web Desk: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has finalized the necessary consultations regarding the expansion and reshuffling of the federal cabinet.
The expansion and reshuffling decisions are expected to be implemented next month. Reliable government sources have confirmed to Media that the Prime Minister has completed consultations with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and party president Mian Nawaz Sharif. He has also taken allied parties of the government into confidence on the matter.
One of the most significant additions to the cabinet will be the inclusion of Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah, the former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. Dr. Shah is currently serving as an Executive Director at the World Bank, a position he assumed in November last year for a four-year term. His appointment was approved by the former caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, who accepted his resignation, allowing him to take up responsibilities in Washington. Dr. Shah’s return and appointment to the federal cabinet were reportedly initiated weeks ago by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Dr. Shah has accepted the invitation and will join the federal cabinet with the status of a full minister. He is expected to be appointed as a Special Assistant to the Prime Minister.
Currently, the federal cabinet consists of 18 members, while the total number of portfolio holders in the government stands at 33, including two Ministers of State, three Special Assistants, and one Advisor.
Sources suggest there won’t be major reshuffling of key cabinet positions, but four to five Members of Parliament are likely to be assigned responsibilities as Ministers of State. The candidates reportedly under consideration include Barrister Aqeel Malik, Senator Talal Badar Chaudhry, Minority Senator Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, and Hanif Abbasi.
This will mark the first significant expansion of the federal cabinet since the current coalition government took office in March last year. Additionally, under Nawaz Sharif’s directives, the Prime Minister has decided to establish a system for regularly evaluating the performance of cabinet members and the overall cabinet efficiency. The Prime Minister’s Office will compile performance reviews quarterly as part of this system.
In this regard, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Senator Ahsan Iqbal, who also oversees establishment matters, will be assigned a special task to oversee the performance evaluation. A dedicated cell is being set up for this purpose.