By SIB
December 28, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has completed homework to expand its cabinet with a likely intention of some changes, top sources in the power corridors told Exclusivewaves.com.pk.
Under the expected scenario, the Chief Executive of Pakistan has decided to include Mr Tauqir Shah, his former Principal Secretary who is currently representing Pakistan in the World Bank as executive director, in his cabinet. In November last year, Mr Tauqir Shah was appointed for four years as executive director (ED) in the World Bank on Pakistan’s seat. He was relieved from the post of the Principal Secretary by the caretaker Premier Anwarul Haq. Just before the installment of the caretaker regime for holding general polls, the then PDM PM Shehbaz Sharif had appointed him as executive director in the World Bank.
The incumbent Prime Minister, top sources disclosed, some weeks back asked Mr Tauqir Shah to return homeland and become part of his cabinet and now Mr Shah has given the consent to join the sitting government. Mr Shah is being tipped as the federal minister of an important ministry. However, there are reports that Dr Musadik Malik, Federal Minister for Petroleum may be replaced and, in return, he may be allotted another cabinet slot. His services, as per top sources, being the minister of petroleum have not impressed the important stakeholder of the sitting regime in SIFC at all.
The Federal cabinet currently comprises 18 cabinet members which may expand up to 33 members. According to the sources, this will be the biggest expansion in the cabinet since last March. To a question, the sources said that there is a possibility of making 4-5 state ministers and to this effect, names of some members of parliament such as barrister Aqueel Malik, Senator Talal Badar Chaudhry, Minority Senator Khalil Tahir Sidhu, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Hanif Abbasi are being tipped as cabinet members.
It has also been learnt that after consultation with Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the President PML-N, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has also carved out a system to review the performance of all ministries under which the review of the ministries would be conducted after every three months.
