Induction of more ministers in federal cabinet likely

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to induct five to six more ministers into federal cabinet this week, ARY News reported citing sources.

As per details, MNA Muhammad Mian Soomro will likely be entrusted the portfolio of privatization, Zartaj Gul will be assigned the Ministry of Climate Change, and Ali Amin Gandapur will look after the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan.

Azam Swati will likely be Minister for Science and Technology. Faisal Vawda is also expected to be inducted into the federal cabinet, but his portfolio is yet not known.

The sources said the new ministers will likely take oath of their offices this week as the cabinet division has prepared a summary in this regard.

Last month, the prime minister inducted four new ministers into his cabinet, taking the total strength of the federal cabinet to 24.

It is pertinent to mention here that Muhammad Mian Soomro, a PTI MNA from Jacobabad, had declined the offer of becoming a state minister for privatization. He, however, has now agreed to look after the affairs of privatisation.

Among those who were inducted into the cabinet were MNA Omar Ayub Khan, Ali Muhammad Khan, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Muhammad Shabir Ali, Murad Saeed and Muhammad Hammad Azhar.

Ali Muhammad Khan was assigned the portfolio of parliamentary affairs, Ali Zaidi the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, and Murad Saeed the Ministry of Communication.

At present, the cabinet has 19 federal ministers and five ministers of state,  four advisers and four special assistants, according to details available on the cabinet division’s website.