Punjab cabinet: who will make the cut in the initial lineup?

LAHORE: In a move that signals the dawn of a new era in Punjab, a 16-member initial cabinet has been revealed, shedding light on the key figures set to steer the province forward. The cabinet formation, slated to unfold in two phases, marks a crucial juncture in the political landscape.

Sources close to the development have disclosed that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will have the lion’s share in the initial 16-member cabinet. Of the16-member cabinet, 13 will be from the PML-N, two each from the Pakistan Muslim League-Q and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan (IPP), Geo News reported.

Among the prominent names set to grace the inaugural cabinet are stalwarts such as Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, Maryam Aurangzeb, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Khawaja Imran Nazir, Bilal Yasin and Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, underscoring a blend of seasoned leadership and fresh perspectives. The lineup also boasts individuals like Khizar Hussain Mazari, Manshaullah Butt, Aashiq Kermani, Naeem Khan Bhabha, Azma Bukhari, Faisal Ayub, Sher Ali Gorchani, Ahmed Khan Laghari, Raheela Khadim Hussain and Sibtain Bukhari will also be part of the cabinet, promising a diverse range of expertise to address Punjab’s multifaceted challenges.

Furthermore, the second phase promises to add depth to the cabinet with the inclusion of figures such as Malik Asif, Akhtar Bosal, Yawar Zaman, Fida Hussain, Malik Tanveer, Aslam Malik, Asad Khokhar, Farooq Javed and Salman Naeem. Chaudhry Shafay Hussain from PML-Q and Ghazanfar Cheena from the IPP will also be part of the cabinet in the second phase, underscoring a collaborative spirit aimed at fostering inclusive governance.

On Monday, Maryam Nawaz, recently elected as Punjab Chief Minister took oath as the country’s first provincial female head.

The swearing-in ceremony held at Punjab Governor House was attended by a diverse array of guests, numbering over 1,000, including diplomats, celebrities, political figures, journalists, and notable members of the Sharif family such as Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif