The low growth, high fiscal deficit and biting inflation on the face of serious challenges to the external account with exports decreasing required fiscal discipline and austerity. What is more interesting is the fact that the government has created a new ministry "climate change" and Rana Muhammad Farooq, who once served as textile minister and considered to have developed some expertise, has been made head of 'climate change' ministry. This indicates that the induction of full Ministers and junior Ministers is clearly aimed at serving the party.
Those who have been awarded portfolio by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani are Qamar Zaman Kaira, who replaced Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan. Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has been made minister for National Regulations and Services. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, who previously served as Minister for Water and Power, and is facing allegations of corruption in rental power projects, has been given the portfolio of Information Technology.
Nazar Muhammad Gondal, who had served as Minister for Agriculture, will be heading the Capital Administration and Development Ministry while Maula Bux Chandio, who was replaced by Farooq H Naek as law Minister, has been given the charge of Political Affairs.
Those who have been inducted as Ministers of State are Syed Sumsam Ali Bukhari (Information and Broadcasting), Malik Ammad Khan (Foreign Affairs), Chaudhry Imtiaz Safdar Warraich (Interior), Sardar Muhammad Muazzam Ali Jatoi (National Food Security and Research), Malik Azmat Khan (Inter Provincial Co-ordination), Tasneem Ahmad Qureshi (Water and Power), Raheela Baloch (Science and Technology), Dost Muhammad Mazari (Communication), Sardar Saleem Haider (Defence) and Abbas Khan Afridi (Commerce).