The joint opposition in Pakistan is now working to appoint ministers to assist the newly sworn in 23rd prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, who has already short-listed the people he is likely to induct. According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will finalize the members of the federal Cabinet Tuesday and also announce the names quickly. The sources revealed to Geo News that PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah is likely to be given the portfolio of an interior minister, while Marriyum Aurangzeb is expected to be appointed the information minister. Last week, during a joint opposition meeting, former president and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also addressed Rana Sanaullah as the interior minister. Earlier, sources had revealed that the PML-N will have the majority in the Cabinet with 12 ministers. The PPP will have seven, and the JUI-F will be given four ministries. Meanwhile, MQM-P will have two, and ANP, JWP and BAP one each. PML-N's Khawaja Asif, Saad Rafique, Khurram Dastgir, Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Rana Sanaullah and Murtaza Javed are likely to join the Cabinet. Independent candidates Mohsin Dawar and Aslam Bhootani and PML-Q's Tariq Bashir Cheema are also likely to be included in the Cabinet. The name of Azam Nazir Tarar is under consideration for the Leader of the House in the Senate. The PPP will give the ministry to either Sherry Rehman or Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar from the Senate. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari could be the next foreign minister, while Shazia Marri's name is also under consideration for a Cabinet slot. During an interview last week, the PPP chairperson said that the party will decide his role in the new government. The JUI-F has demanded governorship of Balochistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the governor of Punjab will be from PPP and the governor of Sindh from MQM-P. In his first speech in the National Assembly as the prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz raised the minimum wage of government employees to Rs25,000 which is applicable from April 1. He further announced that 10% salaries will be increased of all people earning less than Rs 100,0000 per month, with effect from April 1. Shehbaz also announced a 10% increase in civil and military pensions of retired employees. Among other relief measures, Shehbaz said that cheap wheat will be introduced at utility stores, laptops will be provided to the youth, and Benazir Card will be introduced. — Agencies
