After days of deliberation on its composition, the federal cabinet is scheduled to take oath today (Monday) at 3 pm.
The oath-taking ceremony is slated to occur at the President’s House, where newly elected President Asif Ali Zardari will administer the oath.
Sources indicate that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has initially opted for a smaller cabinet, with plans for further inductions in the second phase.
Former finance minister Ishaq Dar is expected to assume the role of foreign minister in the new cabinet, while Tariq Fatemi will be sworn in as a special assistant to the prime minister on foreign affairs.
Muhammad Aurangzeb is set to oversee the Finance Ministry, with former Punjab chief minister Mohsin Naqvi taking charge of the Interior Ministry.
Additionally, the Ministry of Law is to be entrusted to veteran Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Azam Tarar, with Attaullah Tarar as the information minister, and Khawaja Asif leading the Defence Ministry, according to the sources.
The Petroleum Ministry portfolio is slated for Musadik Malik, while Shaza Fatima Khawaja will head the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.
Ahad Cheema will join as an adviser to the prime minister for the Establishment Division, with former Balochistan CM Jam Kamal and PML-Quaid’s Chaudhry Salik Hussain also set to be part of the federal cabinet, as per the sources.
Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Abdul Aleem Khan and PML-N politician Amir Muqam are expected to join the federal cabinet, alongside two ministries for the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan.
The swearing-in of the federal cabinet follows Prime Minister Shehbaz taking the oath of office as the 24th premier of the country last week, while President Zardari was sworn in as the head of state a day ago, with all dignitaries present during the ceremony.
