PM Nawaz approves Balochistan cabinet expansion

QUETTA: After a delay of more than four months, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has approved the expansion of the Balochistan cabinet. The cabinet has only had three members since June 19 – the day the three ministers took the oath of office.

According to a spokesperson for the Balochistan government, under the formula approved by the prime minister the cabinet will comprise six ministers from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and three ministers each from National Party (NP) and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP). In addition to this, there will be five advisers – two each from PML-N and PkMAP, and one from NP.

The formula was agreed upon during a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz, Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, PkMAP president Mehmood Khan Achakzai, provincial minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and Nawabzada Jangayz Marri on Wednesday.

The spokesperson said, however, that the names of the new cabinet members – who are likely to take oath within the next 48 hours – have not yet been disclosed. He attributed the delay to differences among coalition partners over the distribution of portfolios.