ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has decided to
reshuffle the federal cabinet prior to Ramzan Mubarik to accommodate
the left over PML-Q ministers.
Official sources told Online
that the reshuffling of the cabinet is expected next week and in this
regard Prime Minister has completed consultation with the president and
PML-Q.
After the devolution of Ministries of Minorities
affairs, health and labour and manpower, the PML-Q ministers who were
left without a department would be given new departments.
To
this effect it has been decided to establish Ministry for interfaith
harmony in place of minorities affairs, while departments of education,
social welfare and population which are with the centre would be merged
and a new ministry would be formed with the name of Ministry for Social
Affairs. The departments of Ministry of food and agriculture which are
still with the centre would be joined to form ministry for food
security.
Official sources further said that ministry of
housing and construction would be bifurcated and two new ministries
with the name of Housing and Works would be made.
It has also
been learnt that Prime Minister and Ch Shujaat Hussain have managed to
woo PML-Q Amir Muqam and after the reshuffling he would be allotted a
portfolio. On the other hand finance minister Hafeez Sheikh has
expressed his interest to include Chairman ERRA Hamid Yar Hiraj into
his team and make him state minister of economic affairs. Hamid Hiraj
so far has not responded. Online
