ISLAMABAD. Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has taken charge as the country's 37th federal minister, hours after being sworn in as federal minister during a ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad. The development comes after his London trip where he met with PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif.

President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office to the PPP chairman. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was by his side.

The ceremony commenced with the national anthem. This was followed by recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. The cabinet members then rose to take the oath of office.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari, ex-prime ministers Yousuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and a large number of parliamentarians, PPP workers, and government officials were present at the ceremony. Bilawal's close family including his sister Aseefa and maternal aunt Sanam Bhutto, the sister of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, also attended the ceremony.

While Bilawal took oath as a federal minister, it was widely speculated that he would get the foriegn minister's portfolio. The same was tweeted by his youngster sister Bakhtawar.

"Today Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will take oath as Pakistan’s Foreign Minister in this unity government - decided by #PPP CEC & we couldn’t be more proud of him!"

The inclusion of Bilawal means PM Shehbaz's cabinet will now swell to 42 members. Bilawal will also accompany the prime minister on his first international visit to Saudi Arabia on Thursday (tomorrow).

Bilawal, the heir to the Bhutto dynasty, was first elected to the National Assemebly in 2018.