ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar’s cabinet will take oath today at 5 pm after the official announcement of the names of the elected members, sources told JEE News.
The caretaker prime minister completed consultations on his cabinet members on Wednesday, with several well-known names being tipped for key positions in the caretaker set-up.
Sources say that former Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Dr. Shamshad Akhtar is likely to be made Finance Minister, according to The News, former Foreign Secretary Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani for the post of Interim Foreign Minister. is being considered.
Earlier this week, Dr Akhtar – who was also the finance minister in the caretaker government ahead of the 2018 general elections – was awarded the Nishan Imtiaz by President Dr Arif Alvi on Independence Day.
She served as Governor of the State Bank for a three-year term from 2 January 2006, becoming the first woman to head the country’s central bank.
Meanwhile, Jilani has 38 years of bilateral and multilateral experience as a public servant and career diplomat, having served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and Australia.
Jilani was appointed Foreign Secretary in 2012, and while in that post, he was closely involved in the negotiations and finalization of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), under the then Chinese Premier Li. Key agreements for the project were signed during Ki Chiang’s visit. People’s Party Government.
Top sources in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said that eminent textile industrialist and Chief Executive of Ejaz Group of Companies Dr. Gohar Ejaz is likely to be made the Interim Federal Minister of Commerce and Industry.
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTAMA) has confirmed that Dr. Ijaz will take oath as Minister of Commerce and Industry today.
Earlier, sources told JEE News that defense analyst Syed Muhammad Ali is being considered for nomination to the Ministry of Information.
It was further revealed that Sultan Ali Alana, a prominent banker, was earlier recommended for caretaker finance minister. However, due to his dual citizenship, two more names were now being considered for the post.
According to the sources, the names of former finance minister Hafeez Sheikh and former State Banker Raza Baqir are not being considered for caretaker finance minister.
Moreover, the name of Senator Sarfraz Bugti is likely to be finalized for the Interior Minister as he also held the portfolio of Interior Minister and Tribal Affairs of Balochistan earlier.
Earlier it was reported that the caretaker prime minister will retain three senior aides of his predecessor Shahbaz Sharif.
It is also learned that the interim prime minister has retired Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister (PSPM) Dr. Syed Toqeer Hussain Shah, former adviser to the prime minister, Ahad Cheema and joint secretary Mohib Ali.
Shah will continue as PSPM until October this year after which he will move to the World Bank where he will serve as Group Executive Director for Pakistan for four years.
Additionally, Cheema is likely to be assigned the equivalent of a federal minister, while Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abdul Akbar will also be among the officers who will continue to hold the office.
Meanwhile, sources have revealed that Arshad Munir Khan, promoted in Grade 21, will be posted as Principal Information Officer (PIO).
The Prime Minister’s Military Secretary (MS) Brigadier Tajdeed Mumtaz will also continue to perform his duties.
The caretaker federal cabinet is expected to be short. Sources say that it has been decided to include only eminent persons in the caretaker cabinet.
The caretaker prime minister will also assign special tasks to his cabinet ministers based on their portfolios.
