Nawaz unveils his core team; 25-member cabinet takes oath
08 June, 2013
ISLAMABAD: A 25-member federal cabinet of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took oath on Friday.
President Asif Ali Zardari administered oath to the cabinet, which includes 16 federal ministers and nine ministers of state, completing the process of the formation of new democratic government. The ceremony at the Presidency was attended by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, the services' chiefs, parliamentarians, diplomats and senior officials.
The federal ministers and their portfolios are: Ishaq Dar who would be finance minister; Chaudhry Nisar, interior minister; Khawaja Asif, minister of water and power; Khaqan Abbasi, minister of petroleum and natural resources; Kamran Micheal, minister for religious harmony; Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, minister for industries; Khawaja Saad Rafiq, minister for railways; Rana Tanweer, minister for Kashmir affairs; Sikandar Hayat Bosan, minister for overseas Pakistanis; Zahid Hamid, minister for law; Barjees Tahir, minister for parliamentary affairs; Sadruddin Rashdi, minister for food and security; Abdul Qadir Baloch, minister for states and frontier regions (SAFRON); Sardar Yousuf, minister for religious affairs; Ahsan Iqbal has been given the Ministry of Planning, Science and Technology, while Pervez Rashid would be minister of information and broadcasting.
The ministers of state are: Mian Balighur Rehman, Usman Ibrahim, Khurram Dastagir, Jam Kamal, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, Abdul Hakeem Baloch, Saira Afzal Tarar, Anoshe Rehman and Pir Aminul Hasnat. Sartaj Aziz and Captain (r) Shujaat Azeem have been appointed as advisers to the prime minister. Sartaj Aziz has been appointed as adviser on national security and foreign affairs, while Shujaat Azeem has been appointed adviser on aviation. Sanaullah Zehri and Tariq Fatmi have been appointed special assistants to the prime minister. Sanaullah Zehri has been appointed as special assistant to the prime minister. The offices of all ministries and divisions will remain open today to facilitate the newly sworn-in federal ministers and ministers of state to assume their offices and functions.
Federal Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday said the federal government would provide assistance to the provinces in the areas of intelligence sharing and security forces on need basis, to ensure law and order. Talking to newsmen after taking oath as federal minister, Chaudhry Nisar said such support would be provided to provinces across-the-board, where and when required. He said the federal security forces, including Rangers would be provided if provinces needed support to maintain law and order.
Chaudhry Nisar said the framework on law and order would be devised after a meeting on Monday. He said Islamabad would be brought under full surveillance network. He said the task of maintaining law and order was challenging but the government was determined to address the situation effectively. He assured the nation that the new government would work day and night to safeguard the life and property of citizens.
Chaudhry Nisar said none of the departments that come under his domain would have controversial heads. To a question he said the inspector general and director general of the Federal Investigation Agency would also be appointed on merit. The newly sworn-in minister said Islamabad would be made a model city. He said emphasis would be laid on improvement in areas including cleanliness, crime and traffic.
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