The federal cabinet now comprises 50 members including federal and state ministers, special assistants, and advisers.
PM Imran Khan has appointed 27 federal ministers, four state ministers, five advisers, and 14 special assistants in total.
Two of his special assistants — Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Dr Sania Nishtar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Establishment Mohammad Shahzad Arbab — have been promoted as federal ministers.
New SAPM on Information and Broadcasting Lt Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa has not been accorded the status of a federal minister neither that of a state minister, therefore, the total count of unelected members of the cabinet stands at 18.
The number of federal ministers part of the cabinet earlier was 26 but with the induction of Shibli Fraz, the number now stands at 27.
The PTI and PM Imran had voiced the demand for a small cabinet. The PTI had promised to have a cabinet of “leaders of change” to ensure the implementation of PM Imran’s agenda. Giving its 100-day plan, the PTI government had said, “Any agenda, no matter how good on paper, will only have an impact if it is implemented well. Implementing change in government is messy and it will require hard work as well as resolve, capability, and constant learning, and adaptation.
Meanwhile, the premier has kept several portfolios to himself, including, the ministry of trade, climate change, parliamentary affairs, finance, health, and overseas Pakistanis.
