ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – In a ceremonial event held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad, the newly-appointed Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s cabinet took the oath of office on Thursday.
President Arif Alvi officiated the swearing-in, administering the oath to the 19-member interim federal cabinet.
The cabinet composition, as detailed in an official communiqué, comprises 16 federal ministers, 6 special advisers, and 3 advisers.
The federal ministers and their respective ministries are as follows:
- Senator Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti: Interior, Overseas Pakistanis, NARCO
- Jalil Abbas Jilani: Foreign Affairs
- Shamshad Akhtar: Finance and Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics, Privatization
- Lt General (retd) Anwar Ali Hyder: Defence, Defence Production, Aviation
- Murtaza Solangi: Information and Broadcasting
- Sami Saeed: Planning Development
- Shahid Ashraf Tarar: Communication (Railways, Postal Services, Ports, Maritime Affairs)
- Ahmad Irfan Aslam: Law and Justice, National Resources, Climate Change, Water
- Muhammad Ali: Energy and Power, Petroleum
- Gohar Ejaz: Commerce, Textile, Industries, Production
- Umar Saif: Information Technology, Telecommunication, Science, Technology
- Nadeem Jan: National Health Services, Regulation, Control
- Khalil George: National Health Services, Regulation, Control
- Aneeq Ahmad: Religious Affairs, Hajj, Interfaith Harmony
- Jamal Shah: National Heritage, Culture
- Madad Ali Sindhi: Federal Education, National Harmony, Youth Affairs
The advisers to the Prime Minister are:
- Air Marshal (retd) Farhat Hussain Khan: Aviation
- Ahad Khan Cheema: Establishment
- Waqar Masood Khan: Finance
The special advisers include:
- Mishal Hussain Malik: Human Rights, Women Empowerment
- Jawad Sohrab Malik: Overseas
- Vice Admiral (retd) Iftikhar Rao: Maritime Affairs
- Wasih Shah: Tourism
- Dr Jehanzeb Khan: Government Effectiveness, SIFC
- Syeda Arifa Zehra: Education, National Harmony Affairs
Commencing with the national anthem and the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, the ceremony was attended by Interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, politicians, and notable figures.
Following the swearing-in, Prime Minister Kakar promptly allocated portfolios to his team, as per a notification by the Cabinet Division.
Notably, former State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor Shamshad Akhtar was entrusted with the portfolios of Finance and Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics, and Privatization. Previously, Dr. Akhtar held the position of finance minister in the caretaker government before the 2018 general election.
Former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani assumed the mantle of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With a distinguished career, he served as the SBP governor and held pivotal diplomatic roles, contributing significantly to bilateral and multilateral engagements.
Meanwhile, Eminent textile industrialist and Chief Executive of Ejaz Group of Companies Dr. Gohar Ejaz has been entrusted with the portfolios of Commerce, Textile, Industries, and Production.
Furthermore, ministries including Interior, Overseas Pakistanis, and NARCO were assigned to Senator Sarfraz Bugti, who previously held the portfolio of Minister of Home and Tribal Affairs of Balochistan.
Lieutenant General (retd) Anwar Ali Haider was designated with the portfolios of Defence, Defence Production, and Aviation.
In a noteworthy move, the caretaker Prime Minister has convened the inaugural session of his cabinet, scheduled for Friday.
(Islamabad51-Newsdesk)
