Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s federal cabinet became the smallest among the governments elected in the Centre since 2008.

A 19-member federal cabinet took the oath administered by President Asif Ali Zardari in a ceremony at the President’s House earlier on Monday, making it the smallest among the five governments since 2028.

The previous coalition government, formed after the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence vote, had the biggest federal cabinet.

The Pakistan Democratic Movement government in 2022 had a total of 70 members; out of which 34 were federal ministers, seven state ministers, four advisers, and 25 special assistants to the prime minister.

The federal cabinet in the Pakistan Peoples Party tenure in 2008 consisted of 60 members. The PPP government had 38 federal ministers, 18 state ministers, two advisers and two PM’s aide.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) formed the central government in 2013.

Its federal cabinet comprised 59 members; out of which 32 were federal ministries, 15 state ministries, and four advisers while eight were appointed assistants to the prime minister.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government that took charge of the country in 2018 had a 52-member federal cabinet.

Out of the 52 members, 25 were federal ministers, four state ministers, four advisers, and as many as 19 were special assistants to the PM.