The Cabinet Division has officially issued a notification confirming the appointment of 12 federal ministers and nine ministers of state. Additionally, notifications for the appointment of three advisors and four special assistants to the prime minister were also issued on Thursday.
The newly inducted officials have been included in the expanded federal cabinet, with their portfolios to be announced later.
The newly inducted federal ministers include:
- PML-N: Hanif Abbasi, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Sardar Yousuf, Rana Mubasher, Raza Hayat Hiraj, Junaid Anwar, Shaza Fatima, Moin Wattoo
- MQM: Mustafa Kamal
- Balochistan Awami Party: Khalid Magsi
- Independent: Aurangzeb Khichi
Ministers of state sworn in
Nine ministers of state also took the oath, including:
- Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party: Aun Chaudhry
- PML-N: Barrister Aqeel, Malik Rashid, Talal Chaudhry, Abdul Rehman Kanju, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Dr. Mukhtar Bharath, Wajih Qamar, Khel Das
However, Armaghan Subhani and Shazra Mansab were unable to attend the ceremony and will take their oaths later.
Advisers join cabinet
According to the notification, Pervaiz Khattak, Muhammad Ali, and Toqir Hussain Shah have been appointed as advisors to the prime minister, with each holding the rank of a federal minister.
The newly appointed special assistants to the PM include:
- Haroon Akhtar
- Huzaifa Rehman
- Mubarak Zeb
- Talha Barki
Expansion of cabinet
In the first phase of the federal cabinet's expansion, 12 federal ministers and nine ministers of state took the oath, while three new advisers were also appointed. However, one federal minister and two ministers of state have yet to take their oaths.
With these additions, the size of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's cabinet has expanded significantly, growing from 24 to 51 members. Additionally, Ali Pervaiz Malik and Shaza Fatima have been promoted from ministers of state to federal ministers.
Total cabinet strength
The Shehbaz Sharif cabinet initially comprised 18 federal ministers, two ministers of state, an advisor, and three special assistants. Following the expansion, the total number of cabinet members has risen to 51, including:
- 31 federal ministers
- 11 ministers of state
- 4 advisers
- 3 special assistants
The portfolios of the newly appointed ministers, advisors, and special assistants will be announced in due course.
