Pakistan’s new cabinet members take oath

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath of office to 21 federal ministers and one minister of state of the new federal cabinet at President House February 11.

The new cabinet consists of many previous ministers, including Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhatar, reappointed Minister of Defence, and A. Rehman Malik as Interior Minister, according to a list obtained by Central Asia Online. Hina Rabbani Khar was named Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, a position short of being named Foreign Minister.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has retained eight ministerial portfolios for himself, including Water and Power, Human Rights, Petroleum and Natural Resources and Defence Production.

First-time cabinet members are Changez Jamali (Science and Technology), Khuda Bakhsh Rajar (Narcotics Control) and Umar Gorgage (Postal Services).

Two days earlier, the 56 members of the federal cabinet resigned to enable formation of a new, smaller cabinet in accordance with the 18th Amendment, which mandates a reduction in government.