21-member strong Punjab cabinet takes oath

The 21-member strong Punjab cabinet on Saturday took oath of office in a simple and solemn ceremony at the Governor House.

Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman administered the oath to the provincial ministers.

Punjab Implementation and Coordination Secretary Zaid bin Maqsood read out the notification regarding the appointment.

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, provincial assembly Speaker Sabtain Khan, former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, former minister/MNA Monis Elahi, MPAs, journalists, party workers and persons concerned from different walks of life were present on the occasion.

Among the ministers who took oath were Dr Yasmin Rashid (Health), Mohsin Laghari (Finance), Col (retd) Hashim Dogar (Home and Prisons), Taimoor Malik Bhatti (Sports and Youth Affairs), Raja Yasir Humayun (Higher Education and Information Technology), Ansar Majeed Niazi (Labour), Raja Basharat (Cooperatives and Prosecution), Sardar Shahabuddin (Livestock), Muneeb Cheema (Transport), Murad Raas (School Education), Khurrum Shahzad Virk (Parliamentary Affairs), Sardar Asif Nakki (Excise and Taxation), Ali Afzal Sahi (Communication and Works), Nawabzada Mansoor Khan (Revenue), Hussain Jahanian Gardezi (Agriculture), Ghazanfar Abbas (Social Welfare), Latif Nazar (Mines and Minerals), Sardar Husnain Bahadur Dreshak (Food and Energy), Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed (Local Government and Community Development), Mian Aslam Iqbal (Housing) and Ali Abbas Shah (Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries).

It was speculated that Rehman, belonging to the PML-N, might not swear in the PTI and PML-Q lawmakers, given that PTI's Omar Cheema, who was previously governor, did not swear in PML-N's Hamza Shahbaz as chief minister and after the post changed hands, Rehman did not administer the oath to PML-Q's Pervez Elahi.

Elahi congratulated the newly inducted ministers, expressing confidence that they would perform their responsibilities efficiently.

“It is hoped that the provincial ministers will work day and night to serve the people and meet the expectations of the people of Punjab.”

He advised them to spare no effort in serving the masses as the focus of the government “is the welfare of the poor people”.

“They will take all possible measures to give relief to the common man,” Elahi said.