The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is likely to give the portfolio of foreign ministry to Ishaq Dar, sources said on Tuesday. He was considered the frontrunner to become the next finance minister.
The party is expected to appoint HBL CEO Muhammad Aurangzeb as adviser on finance as newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif continued consultations to form his cabinet, with several key names being in consideration.
Attaullah Tarar is under consideration for the information ministry while former home minister Rana Sanaullah is likely to be appointed the advisor on the interior affairs.
While the final announcement of the federal cabinet is likely to be made around the date of the presidential election, some possible names and portfolios have emerged.
According to sources, Ahsan Iqbal is a leading candidate for the post of interior minister while Khawaja Asif is expected to be defence minister.
Anusha Rehman’s name has emerged as a possible candidate for the IT ministry. Sardar Yousaf is likely to be made minister for religious affairs.
Hanif Abbasi is likely to be the minister for health, Musadik Malik will be chosen for the ministry of petroleum while Tariq Fazal Chaudhry will head the CAD ministry.
MQM-P leader Amin ul Haq, IPP’s Aleem Khan, PML-Q’s Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and PML-N’s Azam Nazir Tarar, Amir Muqam and Nasir Sidhu could also be included in the cabinet, although the possible portfolios are not yet known.
Rana Mashhood, Abid Sher Ali, Fawad Hasan Fawad and Ahad Cheema are likely to become special assistants to the prime minister.
The ruling coalition was formed with Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz as its largest party. Pakistan Peoples Party pledged its support to Shehbaz for the election of PM, but has already annunced that it will not take any ministries.
