Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s interim cabinet sworn in

Islamabad: Cabinet members of newly-appointed Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar were sworn in at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Thursday.

President Arif Alvi administered the oath to the interim cabinet of 19 members.

While, According to a document, the new cabinet consists of 16 federal ministers, 6 special advisers, and 3 advisers.

Federal ministers

1. Senator Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti — Interior/ Overseas Pakistanis/ NARCO
2. Jalil Abbas Jilani — Foreign Affairs
3. Shamshad Akhtar — Finance and Revenue / Economic Affairs /Statistics/ Privatization
4. Lt General (retd) Anwar Ali Hyder — Defence/ Defence Production/ Aviation
5. Murtaza Solangi — Information and Broadcasting
6. Sami Saeed — Planning Development
7. Shahid Ashraf Tarar — Communication (Railways/ Postal Services/ Ports/ Maritime Affairs)
8. Ahmad Irfan Aslam — Law and Justice / National Resources / Climate Change and Water
9. Muhammad Ali — Energy and Power / Petroleum
10. Gohar Ejaz — Commerce/ Textile / Industries / Production
11. Umar Saif — Information Technology and Telecommunication /Science and Technology
12. Nadeem Jan — National Health Services, Regulation and Control
13. Khalil George — National Health Services, Regulation and Control
14. Aneeq Ahmad — Religious Affairs/ Hajj/ Interfaith Harmony
15. Jamal Shah — National Heritage and Culture
16. Madad Ali Sindhi — Federal Education / National Harmony / Youth Affairs

Advisers to PM

1. Air Marshal (retd) Farhat Hussain Khan — Aviation
2. Ahad Khan Cheema — Establishment
3. Waqar Masood Khan — Finance

Special Advisors

1. Mishal Hussain Malik — Human Rights / Women Empowerment
2. Jawad Sohrab Malik — Overseas
3. Vice Admiral (retd) Iftikhar Rao — Maritime Affairs
4. Wasih Shah — Tourism
5. Dr Jehanzeb Khan — Govt Effectiveness / SIFC Syeda Arifa Zehra — Education and National Harmony Affairs

In attendance were Intermin Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, politicians, and notable figures from all aspects of life. While, The ceremony began with the national anthem, followed by the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.

Ministers and advisors assigned portfolios

Interim Premier Kakar designated the caretaker ministers, advisers, and special advisers their portfolios shortly after the swearing-in ceremony.

While, According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, the prime minister appointed former State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor Shamshad Akhtar to the portfolios of Finance and Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics, and Privatisation. Moreover, Dr. Akhtar, who served as finance minister in the interim government prior to the 2018 general election, awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz by President Alvi on Independence Day earlier this week.

Moreover, Former secretary of state for foreign affairs Jalil Abbas Jilani has been appointed minister of foreign affairs. While, He served as the SBP governor for three years beginning on January 2, 2006, becoming the first woman to lead the nation’s central bank.

While, Jilani has 38 years of experience as a public servant and diplomat, having served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union, and Australia.

Jilani appointed foreign secretary in 2012, and during his tenure, leading him intimately involved in the negotiations and finalisation of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), signing the project’s key agreements during the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang under the then-Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government.

Meanwhile, Dr Gohar Ejaz, a distinguished textile industrialist and the chief executive officer of the Ejaz Group of Companies, assigned the portfolios of Commerce, Textile, Industries, and Production.

Additionally, Senator Sarfraz Bugti designated the ministries of Interior, Overseas Pakistanis, and NARCO. Previously, he served as Balochistan’s minister of interior and tribal affairs.

Moreover, Anwar Ali Haider, a retired lieutenant general, assigned the portfolios of Defence, Defence Production, and Aviation.

In the meantime, the caretaker prime minister has convened his first cabinet meeting for Friday (tomorrow).