A day after a major reshuffle in the federal cabinet, President Arif Alvi, on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Friday accepted the resignation tendered by Asad Umar from the office of the federal minister for finance, revenue and economic affairs.
Moreover, another notification was issued regarding appointment of Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh as adviser to the prime minister on finance, revenue and economic affairs, with the status of a federal minister.
Earlier in the day, an updated list of federal ministers, ministers of state, advisers and special assistants to the prime minister was issued by the Cabinet Division. Observers were quick to notice that the name of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government’s erstwhile finance minister Asad Umar was left on the initial list with his portfolio intact. However, the notice making his resignation official was issued later in the day, after the president accorded approval to it.
Health Minister Amir Mehmood Kiyani, who had been in hot waters due to a recent controversy over increase in prices of medicines, was also removed from his position after receiving the presidential assent. The three notifications, for resignation, new appointment and removal, were issued side by side by the Cabinet Division later in the day. Meanwhile, reports emerged that Ghulam Sarwar Khan has refused to take charge of the alternate ministry offered as part of Thursday’s cabinet reshuffle. Sarwar, who served as petroleum minister, was offered the portfolio of aviation minister. However, sources said Sarwar has declined the new portfolio. After the recent reshuffle, 16 non-elected representatives have made it to the federal cabinet. The inclusion of 16 non-elected representatives has increased their ratio to over 34 percent in the cabinet.
In Thursday’s reshuffle, four elected members were replaced by four non-elected representatives: technocrat Abdul Hafeez replaced MNA Asad Umar; Firdous Ashiq Awan included in place of Fawad Chaudhry; Amir Kayani and Ghulam Sarwar Khan replaced by two technocrats. Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Friday assumed charge as special assistant to prime minister on information and broadcasting. Upon her arrival at the ministry, she was received by Secretary Information Shafqat Jalil and other senior officials.