Punjab cabinet expansion is on cards and sources say 12 new ministers will be included in the team of Maryam Nawaz, Punjab chief minister.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Nawaz Sharif has given approval of the names. The decision is in line with the federal cabinet expansion, contrary to the government claims of austerity.
Reports say the senior and junior parliamentarians will be part of the provincial cabinet. Currently, only Maryam Aurangzeb is senior minister in Maryam Nawaz cabinet.
Former provincial minister Begum Zakia Shahnawaz is becoming provincial minister. Former speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal will also be included in the cabinet.
New names included Manshaullah Butt, Colonel (Retd) Ayub Gadhi and Salman Naeem. Similarly, names of new ministers included Rana Tahir Iqbal, Iftikhar Chhachhar and Rana Arshad.
Reports say former minister of Usman Buzdar cabinet Malik Asad Ali Khokhar and Mian Imran Javed are becoming provincial ministers. Osama Khan Leghari and Shoaib Siddiqui from the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) are also becoming ministers. The PML-N president, sources say, has also okayed name of Moose Elahi from PML-Q for provincial minister.
Many claim PML-N has taken the step to expand the cabinet to regain popularity in Punjab. New ministers will take oath within a week, sources say.
