cabinet-expansion-pakistan-2025
12 Federal Ministers, Nine State Ministers, Three Advisers, Four SAPMs Among New Inductees
Key Figures: Former KP CM Pervez Khattak, ex-bureaucrat Tauqir Shah, Khalid Magsi, MQM-P’s Mustafa Kamal
ISLAMABAD: Despite repeated claims of austerity, the PML-N-led federal government on Thursday more than doubled the size of its cabinet, increasing its members from 21 to 43. The new cabinet includes 30 federal ministers, nine ministers of state, and four advisers.
Additionally, four special assistants to the prime minister (SAPMs) have been appointed, bringing the total number of the premier’s team to 51 members, including eight SAPMs.
Swearing-in Ceremony
President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath to 12 federal ministers and nine ministers of state during a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers, parliamentarians, and senior bureaucrats. Three advisers and four SAPMs were also sworn in.
According to the Cabinet Division, a total of 28 members were inducted, including two who were already serving as ministers of state—Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Ali Pervez Malik—bringing the new inductees to 26.
Ms. Khawaja is the only woman federal minister, while the 51-member team now includes two women with the addition of Wajiha Qamar as a minister of state.
Before this expansion, the federal cabinet had 21 members—18 federal ministers, two ministers of state, and one adviser—alongside four SAPMs.
Constitutional Limitations on Cabinet Size
As per Article 92 of the Constitution, no more than one-fourth of federal ministers and ministers of state can be from the Senate, and the total cabinet size cannot exceed 11% of total parliamentary membership.
Currently, the National Assembly and Senate have 336 and 96 members, respectively, totaling 432 members.
Expanding the federal cabinet is a common practice in Pakistan. Previous governments also initially vowed to keep cabinet sizes small but later increased them.
- PPP Government (2008-2013): Former PM Yousuf Raza Gilani expanded his cabinet to 40 members after initially pledging a smaller team.
- PTI Government (2018-2022): The cabinet grew to 86 members, including 34 federal ministers, seven state ministers, 10 advisers, and 35 SAPMs.
Oath-Taking Highlights
The oath-taking ceremony took place at the Presidency shortly after President Zardari awarded the Nishan-i-Pakistan to Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
The 12 newly appointed federal ministers are:
- Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary
- Ali Pervaiz Malik
- Aurangzeb Khan Khichi
- Khalid Hussain Magsi
- Muhammad Hanif Abbasi
- Muhammad Mueen Wattoo
- Muhammad Junaid Anwar
- Muhammad Raza Hayat Hiraj
- Sardar Muhammad Yousaf
- Shaza Fatima Khawaja
- Rana Mubashar Iqbal
- Syed Mustafa Kamal
The nine newly appointed ministers of state are:
- Barrister Aqeel Malik
- Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan
- Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju
- Bilal Azhar Kayani
- Kesoo Mal Kheal Das
- Mohammad Awn Saqlain
- Mukhtar Ahmad Malik
- Talal Chaudhry
- Wajiha Qamar
The three new advisers are:
- Dr. Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah
- Muhammad Ali
- Pervez Khattak
The four newly appointed SAPMs are:
- Haroon Akhtar
- Huzaifa Rehman
- Mubarak Zeb
- Talha Burki
Key Political Appointments
Pervez Khattak (Former KP CM, Ex-PTI Leader)
- Once a key figure in PTI, he became disillusioned with the party leadership.
- Served as KP chief minister (2013-2018) under PTI’s government.
Dr. Tauqir Shah (Ex-Bureaucrat, Adviser to PM)
- Close confidant of PM Shehbaz, previously served as principal secretary to the PM.
- Former Pakistan ambassador to WTO.
- Joined the World Bank in 2023 as an executive director, later appointed alternate executive director in 2024.
Khalid Magsi (BAP Leader, Federal Minister)
- The only representative of BAP (Balochistan Awami Party) in the cabinet.
- A key political ally of PML-N.
Mustafa Kamal (MQM-P Leader, Federal Minister)
- MQM-P’s second representative in the cabinet after Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.
- Expected to be assigned one of the two portfolios held by Siddiqui (Science & Technology or Education).
Awn Saqlain (IPP Leader, Minister of State)
- Second cabinet member from Istehkam Pakistan Party (IPP).
- IPP leader Abdul Aleem Khan already holds three federal ministries (Privatisation, BoI, Communication).
Raza Hayat Hiraj (Political Veteran, Federal Minister)
- Former federal minister during Pervez Musharraf’s regime.
- Elected as an MNA on a PML-N ticket.
PTI Expels Four MNAs Over Cabinet Voting
In a surprising move, PTI expelled four MNAs, including newly appointed SAPM Mubarak Zeb, for voting against party directives during the passage of the 26th Amendment.
The expelled MNAs are:
- Amanullah Khichi
- Mubarak Zeb
- Zahoor Qureshi
- Usman Ali
According to PTI’s Additional Secretary General Firdous Shamim Naqvi, the decision was based on an inquiry and recommendations from the party leadership.
Conclusion
The federal cabinet’s expansion to 51 members contradicts the government’s previous austerity pledges. While the ruling PML-N secured most positions, key allies like MQM-P, BAP, and IPP also gained ministerial roles.
The opposition, especially PTI, has criticized the move, calling it a waste of public resources at a time when Pakistan faces economic challenges.
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