Cabinet to have 11 new faces

ISLAMABAD—According to formula finalized between PPP, PML-N, ANP and JUI-F over distribution of ministries, 24 member new Federal Cabinet would comprise of 11 new faces. According to details, the 24 members cabinet would take oath in the first stage in which 11 belongs to PPP, 9 from PML-N, 2 from ANP while one each from JUI-F and FATA.
Out of 11 ministers of PPP, only four have been the part of the Federal Cabinet in the past including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Naveed Qamar and Ahmed Mukhtar. The seven new faces of PPP in the new Federal Cabinet include Sherry Rehman, Raja Parvaiz Ashraf, Farooq H Naek, Qamar-u-Zaman Kaira, Humayun Aziz, Nazar Muhammad Gondal and Najam-u-Din Khan.
On the other side, Khawaja Saad Rafiqe has also not been part of the Federal Cabinet in the past while Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour of ANP, Rehmat Ullah Kakar of JUI-F and Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi of FATA would become the minister first time.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that in order to provide immediate relief to common man every member of the forthcoming Cabinet would be required to closely adhere to the 100-day programme of the government. The Prime Minister said this while talking to members of the prospective federal Cabinet at the PM’s House on Sunday. The Prime Minister said the whole nation is looking forward to the policies that would be made by this Cabinet for bringing about improvement in their life. The unprecedented mandate, he said, given to the parties in the ruling coalition also puts immense responsibility on the shoulders of the new government.
He said the government has already set priorities in various fields which include bringing about improvement in the energy, wheat and unemployment situation in the country and initiatives have to be taken in this regard. He said the people want to see a change in the system of governance and also a qualitative change in their life.
The Prime Minister said load-shedding not only causes inconvenience to the people but also hampers growth of industry in addition to discouraging the investors. He said had the PPP government in its 1993-96 term not given license to 14 Independent Power Projects, the country by now would have gone back to the stone age.
He said the factual position of each ministry should honestly be told to the nation so that everyone has a fair idea what this government has inherited. The Prime Minister said special and immediate measures need to be taken to improve the law and order and un-employment situation. He congratulated the members of the Cabinet-designate for getting the opportunity of serving the nation at this forum.
The proposed Cabinet Ministers told the Prime Minister that people are highly appreciative of his yesterday’s speech which promised relief to all segments of the society including students, traders as well the agriculture community, particularly increase in the support price of wheat and lifting of ban on student and trade unions. The members also congratulated the Prime Minister on obtaining a unanimous vote of confidence from the National Assembly.
President Musharraf will have the unique honor to administer oath to 4th cabinet during his 9-year rule. The swearing in ceremony of 4th federal cabinet will take place in Aiwan-e-Sadr today following the February 18 elections.
President Musharraf had administered oath to care taker cabinet after seizing the power in 1999.This cabinet remained in place for 3 years. After general elections 2002, president administered oath to elected cabinet. On completion of assembly term, president administered oath to 3rd cabinet in November, 2007 which kept on functioning till March, 25.—Agencies