Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar's cabinet takes oath

Islamabad - 17 August 2023 (Adnan Hameed): Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar's 25-member 'technocratic' cabinet was announced on Thursday evening, with seven members to occupy positions as 'junior ministers' or Ministers of State. President Dr Arif Alvi administered the caretaker ministers the oath of their office at the Aiwan-e-Sadar (Presidency) on Thursday evening. This is the largest cabinet for any caretaker prime minister. The names and their tentative portfolios for the caretaker cabinet include: A 19-member interim cabinet was sworn in on Thursday at a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad as President Arif Alvi administered the oath to the federal cabinet. According to a document, 16 federal ministers, 6 special advisers and 3 advisers are part of the new cabinet. The ceremony started with the national anthem before the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran and was attended by Intermin Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, politicians and prominent figures from all walks of life. According to the notification, Senator Sarfaraz Bugti has been given the charge of Ministry of Interior while he would also look after Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Narcotics Control. Veteran diplomat Jalil Abbas Jilani will handle Ministry of Foreign Affairs while former Governor State Bank of Pakistan Shamshad Akhtar has been given the charge of Ministry of Finance and Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics & Privatisation. Senior anchorperson and journalist Murtaza Solangi will take charge of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting while Lt General (retd) Anwar Ali Hyder will take up affairs of Ministry of Defence Production & Aviation. Sami Saeed has been entrusted with the Ministry of Planning & Development while Chairman Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) Shahid Ashraf Tarar who resigned from his office the same day, was given charge of Ministry of Communication, Railways, Postal Services, Ports & Maritime Affairs. Mr Nadeem Jan has been given Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Control while Khalil George will look after the affairs of Ministry of Human Rights. Mr Aneeq Ahmad will look after Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hajj & Interfaith Harmony while Jamal Shah would handle the affairs of National Heritage and Culture. Mr Madad Ali Sindhi would take over Ministry of Federal Education, National Harmony & Youth Affairs. Mr Ahmad Irfan Aslam has been appointed Minister for Law and Justice, National Resources, Climate Change and Water Resources while Mr Muhammad Ali would take up the affairs of Ministry of Energy and Power, Petroleum. Mr Gohar Ejaz would take up Ministries of Commerce, Textile, Industries & Production while outgoing prime minister Shehbaz Sharif’s confidant Umar Saif has been given task of Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and Science and Technology. Among advisers to PM, Air Marshal (retd) Farhat Hussain Khan would look after Aviation; while Mr Ahad Khan Cheema would oversee establishment and Mr Waqar Masood Khan Finance. Special Advisors include Mushaal Hussain Malick who would oversee Human Rights and Women Empowerment while Jawad Sohrab Malik would tackle Overseas and Vice Admiral (retd) Iftikhar Rao Maritime Affairs. Wasih Shah would look after Tourism while Dr Jehanzeb Khan would handle Govt Effectiveness and SIFC while Syeda Arifa Zehra would deal with Education and National Harmony Affairs.