Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to keep his cabinet small, sources said on Saturday. In the past, several experts have stressed the need for having the federal cabinet’s size small due to the state of the economy.

They added the federal cabinet would comprise 12 to 14 ministers in the initial phase. Portfolios related to finance, foreign affairs, power, planning, information, privatisation, and interior would be awarded to members.

Some of the ministers would also be given additional portfolios.

It is expected that Ishaq Dar, Attaullah Tarar, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Shamshad Akhtar would be included in the cabinet.

The key post for the government is to fill the man in charge of economic matters, according to many experts as the country is expected to seek another bailout package from the International Monetary Fund.

The struggling $350 billion economy has a narrow path to recovery and the current IMF agreement expires on April 11, with critical external financing avenues linked to securing another extended programme.

Pakistan averted default last summer thanks to a short-term International Monetary Fund bailout, but the programme expires next month and a new government will have to negotiate a long-term arrangement to keep the $350 billion economy stable.

Ahead of the bailout, the South Asian nation had to undertake a slew of measures demanded by the IMF, including revising its budget, a hike in its benchmark interest rate, and increases in electricity and natural gas prices.

The IMF staff continues a dialogue with authorities on needed longer-term reform efforts, a spokesperson for the fund said, adding that the fund is available, if requested, to support the post-election government through a new arrangement to address Pakistan’s ongoing challenges.

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Meanwhile, PML-N leader Ataullah Tarar said that the federal government would form a small cabinet of “competent people”.

In an interview with Geo News, he said it would send a “good message to the people”.

“A small cabinet has to be formed,” Tarar told Shahzad Iqbal on his show Naya Pakistan. “The PM’s vision is to allot ministries to those who work hard and can take the country out of crisis.”

He described the coalition government alliance as “exemplary” and added that the federation has become strong due to PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari being elected as the next president.

“We had a good meeting with him earlier. They thought it was better for them to take constitutional positions. This doesn’t mean that they won’t be included in policy formation,” Tarar said.