The newly appointed federal ministers, special assistants, and advisers were officially assigned their respective portfolios on Friday.
This followed a significant expansion of the federal cabinet, marked by a swearing-in ceremony on February 27 at the President’s House, where President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath to the new members.
The expanded cabinet now includes 27 additional members: 13 federal ministers, 11 state ministers, and three advisers. The Cabinet Division has issued a notification detailing the portfolio allocations.
Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has been named the federal minister for parliamentary affairs, while Ali Pervaiz Malik will oversee the petroleum ministry. Aurangzeb Khan Khichi has been assigned the national heritage ministry, and Khalid Magsi will lead the Ministry of Science and Technology. Hanif Abbasi has taken charge of the railways ministry.
Muhammad Mueen Watoo has been appointed as the federal minister for water resources, with Muhammad Junaid Anwar heading the maritime affairs ministry. Muhammad Raza Hayat Haraj will manage the defense production ministry, while Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has been given the religious affairs portfolio.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja will serve as the federal minister for IT and Telecommunications. Rana Mubashar Iqbal has been assigned to the Public Affairs Unit, and Syed Mustafa Kamal will lead the Ministry of Health. Rashid Ahmad Khan has been appointed as the minister for Food Security and Research.
Among the state ministers, Abdul Rehman Kanju will handle the Power ministry with an additional role in the Public Affairs Unit. Bilal Azhar Kayani has been named the minister of state for Railways, and Aqeel Malik will oversee Law and Justice. Khail Das Kohistani has been assigned to Religious Affairs, while Aoun Chaudhry will manage Overseas Pakistanis and Human Development.
Talal Chaudhry has been given the Interior and Narcotics Control portfolio, and Wajiha Qamar will oversee Education and Training. Moreover, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer has taken on the additional responsibility of the Ministry of Human Rights.
