Two more ministers inducted in federal cabinet

Portfolios for Mian Misbahur Rehman and Lt Gen (ret) Khalid Naeem Lodhi will be announced later

ISLAMABAD: The caretaker government has expanded its cabinet setup to eight, with President Mamnoon Hussain administering oath to additional caretaker ministers at President House on Wednesday.

Lt Gen (retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi, a former defence secretary, was assigned portfolios of Defence, Defence Production, National Security and Aviation Divisions.

Previously the ministries were additionally assigned to Interim Foreign Minister Abdullah Hussain Haroon.

Meanwhile Mian Misbahur Rehman, a businessman and former National Assembly member was assigned the portfolios of Commerce & Textile and Industries and Production.


It was previously assigned to Dr Shamshad Akhar in addition to her existing role as Interim Finance Ministry.

Caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk and other officials attended the ceremony.

Naeem Khalid Lodhi

A former corps commander in Gen (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani tenure, Naeem Khalid Lodhi was sent packing as defence secretary back in January 2012 by the then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani following escalation of tension between the security establishment and the then Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government involving Memogate case.

Lodhi had then moved Islamabad High Court (IHC) against his removal but the IHC dismissed his petition and categorically declared that Gillani did not violate any provision of Lodhi’s employment contract.

He was then appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Fauji Fertilizer Company run by Fauji Foundation.

Mian Misbahur Rehman

A prominent businessman in trade circle, Mian Misbahur Rehman is the husband of Yasmin Rehman who served twice in National Assembly on PPP ticket.

Interestingly, Rehman’s other family members are senior stalwarts of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) who were elected on PML-N ticket in National, Punjab assemblies and occupied important government slots.

These include Pervaiz Malik, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and Bushra Rehman.

Misbah is currently on the Board of Directors of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL). Additionally he is the Chief Executive Officer of Popular Chemical Works Private Limited.

He previously served as Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President, Member of Managing Committee of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Lahore Gymkhana Club Chairman and Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Chairman.

Earlier this month, the six-member cabinet of the interim PM Mulk took charge of the caretaker setup. Shamshad Akhtar was assigned the Ministries of Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs, Statistics, Planning, Development and Reform.



In addition to that Abdullah Haroon was assigned Foreign Affairs. Azam Khan was given Interior Ministry, Capital Administration & Development Division and Narcotics Control.

Roshan Bharucha was assigned the Ministries of Human Rights, Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, States and Frontier Regions.

Syed Ali Zafar heads the Ministries of Law & Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Information Broadcasting, National History and Literary heritage.

Yusuf Shaikh heads Federal Education & Professional Training and his additional ministerial portfolios include National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.