16-member Pak Cabinet sworn in, first meet held

The Asian Age.  | Shafqat Ali

World, Asia

In first phase, names of 15 ministers were announced. Later, PM Khan also added Khusro Bakhtiar as minister of water resources.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan (Photo: AP)

Islamabad: The 16-member federal cabinet announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan was sworn in at a ceremony held at the President’s House on Monday. President Mamnoon Hussain administered the oath to the newly-inducted members of the cabinet. On Aug. 19, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry had said that the premier has approved a 21-member cabinet comprising 16 ministers and five advisers. In first phase, names of 15 ministers were announced. Later, PM Khan also added Khusro Bakhtiar as minister of water resources.

As was anticipated, Asad Umar has been given ministry of finance whereas Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has been appointed railways minister.

Fawad Chaudhry has been nominated minister of Information and Broadcasting Division. The former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s CM Pervez Khattak has been given defence portfolio.  Other the cabinet’s members include Farogh Naseem (Law and Justice), Shireen Mazari (Human Rights) and Ghulam Sarwar Khan (Petroleum). After taking the oath, Umer told media that government will address immediate issues like current account deficit but also take long term measures to fix all problems.

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