Cabinet expansion: 13 ministers and 11 ministers of state sworn in

ISLAMABAD: ISLAMABAD: Twenty-four new ministers including three advisers have been inducted into the federal cabinet, who took their oath at a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani, among others attended the ceremony.

A total of 13 federal ministers and 11 ministers of state were sworn in, while three new advisers were also added to the cabinet.

Among those who took the oath as federal ministers were Hanif Abbasi, Moeen Wattoo, Mustafa Kamal, Sardar Yousaf, Aurangzeb Kacchi, Rana Mubashir, Raza Hayat Hiraj, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Shaza Fatima, Junaid Anwar, Khalid Magsi and Pir Imran Shah.

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The ministers of state who took the oath included Talal Chaudhry, Barrister Aqeel Malik, Malik Rasheed, Armaghan Subhani, Kheel Das Kohistani, Abdul Rehman Kanju, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Mukhtar Bhurt, Shezra Mansab, Aun Chaudhry and Wajiha Qamar.

Mohammad Ali, Syed Toqueer Shah, and Pervez Khattak took the aoth as advisers.

While the full portfolio of ministries has yet to be revealed, political observers are keenly awaiting the distribution of responsibilities, which is expected to be announced soon.

After the oath taking, the number of cabinet members will be 49.