Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's 19-member Cabinet was sworn into office on Monday, marking the beginning of a new era for the country. The inauguration ceremony took place at the presidential office in Islamabad, where President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath of office to the ministers in the presence of Prime Minister Sharif.
Sharif, who was elected as prime minister by the parliament following a coalition formation with several allies, has taken on the challenging task of addressing Pakistan's ongoing economic crisis. This comes after his predecessor, Imran Khan, was ousted in a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly.
Among the key appointments made by Prime Minister Sharif are Ishaq Dar as foreign minister, Khawaja Mohammad Asif as defense minister, Mohsin Naqvi as interior minister, and Attaullah Tarar as information minister. The finance minister position has been filled by Muhammad Aurangzeb, while the selection for the climate change minister is still pending.
In his televised address, Sharif pledged to focus on improving the country's economy, curbing inflation, and stabilizing prices during the holy month of Ramadan. The new government faces a multitude of challenges, including economic instability, power shortages, security threats from militant groups, and a complex relationship with neighboring Afghanistan.
President Zardari, who was appointed by the parliament, plays a ceremonial role and is a key ally of Prime Minister Sharif. Notably, no members of Zardari's Pakistan People's Party have been included in the Cabinet, despite his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, serving as foreign minister during Sharif's previous term.
Meanwhile, tensions have risen as supporters of ousted Prime Minister Khan protested alleged election rigging, claiming that the results were manipulated to prevent their party from securing a majority. Election officials have refuted these claims, emphasizing the integrity of the electoral process.
