President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday administered the oath of office to Senator Dr Musadik Malik as Minister of State at a ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The oath-taking ceremony was attended by parliamentarians and senior government officials.

Senator Malik, who is associated with the PML-N, has joined the cabinet while it is in the fourth phase of formation. His inclusion has swelled Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet to 43 members.

On Wednesday the president administered the oath to PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as federal minister, who was later notified as minister of foreign affairs. Bilawal is accompanying the prime minister in his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia.

The new cabinet reflects the political mix of PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, PML-Q and MQM-P.