The federal government has allocated portfolios to the newly-formed 19-member federal cabinet. According to a notification, Khawaja Asif has been named defence minister. He has also been assigned additional portfolios of defence production and aviation.  Ishaq Dar has been given the portfolio of foreign minister, Ahsan Iqbal is the Minister for Planning, Development and Special Measures. Muhammad Aurangzeb has been assigned the portfolio of finance and revenue, while Mohsin Naqvi has been assigned the portfolio of Home Affairs and Narcotics Control, Ahad Cheema has been assigned the portfolio of Economic Affairs and Establishment Division. Musadik Malik has been assigned the portfolio of Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada has been named the Minister of Housing and Works, Attaullah Tarar has been assigned the portfolio of Information and Broadcasting.  Awais Laghai has been assigned the portfolio of Minister of Railways, Safron and Heritage and Culture, Jam Kamal (Trade), Abdul Aleem Khan (Privatization and Board of Investment).

Chaudhry Salik Hussain has been appointed Minister of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Azam Nazir Tarar has been given the portfolio of Law and Justice and Human Rights, and Rana Tanveer Hussain has been assigned the portfolio of Industries and Production. Earlier in the day (Monday), the newly-formed 19-member federal cabinet was sworn in at a ceremony held at the Presidency.  President Asif Ali Zardari administered oath to the ministers.  On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif picked a 19-member cabinet after "consultations" with party leaders and communicated the names to the president. The cabinet includes 12 MNAs and three senators as federal ministers, as well as Shaza Fatima Khawaja as a minister of state. The cabinet is a blend of old and new faces. Old war horses include ex-defence minister Khawaja Asif, former finance minister Ishaq Dar, ex-planning minister Ahsan Iqbal, former law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and ex-state minister for petroleum Musadik Malik.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)