PHOTO: FILE
Once again, there are predictions of reshuffling in the provincial cabinet after numerous administrative changes took place within the Punjab government. It is said that more than 15 ministers are expected to see the reallocation of their ministries in the next few weeks, while four of these ministers are being designated in the “red zone”.
In the Punjab Assembly, it has been difficult for the government to hold a few ministers accountable for their leading role in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) coalition and due to the fear of the so-called “number game”. However, in his recent visit to Lahore, Prime Minister Imran Khan met with Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and carried out a detailed consultation on changes in certain ministries and dismissal of some others. Subsequently, in the coming weeks, changes may be made in the Punjab cabinet all at once or gradually.
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Talking to The Express Tribune, a few sources working at the PM House and CM House Punjab, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that a few days ago, it was decided that changes should be made to the cabinet immediately after making relevant changes to the bureaucracy and administrative changes in Punjab. However, changes in the cabinet have been delayed for a few weeks in view of the effects of the nation-wide situation on the issue of extension of the Army Chief and the development of consensus on legislation thereof.
The decision regarding cabinet reshuffle had been finalised on the occasion of Imran Khan’s recent visit to Lahore, but prominent figures including CM Usman Buzdar, Jahangir Tareen, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Shah Mahmood Qureshi suggested that the changes be deferred until the next few weeks. According to sources, a final decision has also been made to re-induct former senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan and former forest minister Sibtain Khan into the Punjab cabinet. As per the final decision, Aleem Khan will be given his formerly-held local government ministry while Sibtain Khan will also be given the forest ministry.
Ministers whose portfolios are likely to be changed include food minister Sami Ullah Chaudhary, health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, minister for communications and construction Sardar Asif Nakai, minister for finance Malik Muhammad Anwar, minister of transport Jahanzaib Kutchi, minister of prisons Zawar Hussain Warraich and minister sports Rai Taimor Bhatti. Meanwhile, the ministers who are being declared in the “red zone” include minister for population welfare colonel (R) Hashim Dogar, labour minister Ansar Majeed Niazi and Minister for Social Welfare Ajmal Cheema.
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The ministers include special education minister Mohammad Akhlaq, minister for cooperatives Mehar Muhammad Aslam, minority affairs minister Ijaz Masih, minister for mines and minerals Hafiz Ammar Yasir, and literacy minister Raja Rashid Hafeez, among others.
Per government sources, the ministers who were noted for satisfactory performance by Prime Minister Imran Khan include minister housing Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, Law Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja, finance minister Makhdoom Hashim Bakht, information minister Fayyaz Hassan Chohan, industry minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, minister for agriculture Malik Nauman Langrial, excise minister Hafiz Mumtaz, minister for school education Dr Murad Ross and energy minister Dr Akhtar Malik. According to sources in CM House, a notification regarding provincial minister Malik Asad Khokhar’s department will also be issued in the next 48 hours.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2019.
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