Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s new 19-member cabinet was sworn in on Monday, tasked with governing Pakistan amid significant economic, political, and security challenges. The country, with a population of 241 million, has been grappling with a hung National Assembly since the February 8 general election, which delayed the formation of a coalition government until Sharif assumed office last week.
The ministers took an oath administered by President Asif Ali Zardari, pledging to discharge their duties faithfully in accordance with Pakistan’s Constitution and laws, and in the interest of the country’s sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being, and prosperity.
Among the cabinet members are senior members of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, including Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ishaq Dar, and Shaza Fatima Khawaja. Dar is expected to be appointed the new foreign minister, while Asif will likely become the defense minister.
Muhammad Aurangzeb, president of HBL, Pakistan’s largest bank, is likely to become the new finance minister. Ataullah Tarar will lead the information ministry, Azam will handle the law ministry, and Shaza Fatima Khawaja will be the IT minister, the only woman in the cabinet.
Media mogul Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, current chief of the cricket board and former chief minister of Punjab, is slated to become the interior minister. His appointment is seen as significant due to his perceived closeness to Pakistan’s army chief.
The new government faces immediate challenges, including negotiating a new bailout deal with the IMF as the current agreement expires this month. The government will also need to address a surge in militancy, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and manage political tensions, including allegations of election rigging by the opposition.
Sharif will also need to navigate relations with the military, which has played a dominant role in Pakistan’s politics. Unlike his brother Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz is seen as more acceptable to the military, although managing this relationship will remain a key challenge.
