Sources said the government has been under strong criticism from all quarters over poor governance and performance of some ministers was questioned by the parliamentarians during parliamentary committees meetings. The Prime Minister, according to the sources, was also considering making some reshuffling to ease the pressure.
Prime Minister Imran Khan is said to have told the party parliamentarians that he has decided to reshuffle the portfolios of some ministers and is trying to bring back his close confidante and former finance minister, Asad Umar, to head the Petroleum Division.
Former finance minister Asad Umar, who had stepped down in April soon after his return from International Monetary Fund /World Bank annual meeting in Washington ahead of an agreement with the Fund, has now been requested to take the charge of Petroleum Division.
On Monday during the party's parliamentary committee meeting, the cabinet ministers' performance was flayed by the parliamentarians, upon that the Prime Minister has reportedly stated that he has decided to change some ministers.
There are rumors in federal capital since the Prime Minister's return from abroad that Minister for Defense Production Zubaida Jalal Khan may be made minister for education; Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood may be given new responsibility of interior minister and portfolio of Special Assistant to Prime Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan may also be changed. Dr Babar Awan may be made a special assistant to the Prime Minister.
There is also speculation that portfolio of Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhary is also being reshuffled.
The Prime Minister has also decided to make major changes in the Punjab cabinet as well as provincial administration.
According to the sources, the decision to this effect was taken during the hours long meeting between the Prime Minister and the Punjab Chief Minister at Parliament House on Monday. The chief minister and IG Punjab traveled to Islamabad from Lahore to meet the Prime Minister.
They said that in the meeting, the chief minister discussed the reforms which would be brought in Punjab Police with the Prime Minister and there are speculations that decision has been taken to remove and replace some high officials in Punjab administration as well as provincial cabinet.
There were reports that inspector general of Punjab Police is likely to be replaced along with other high ranking officials.
The sources said that the Prime Minister has also taken strict notice of the ongoing dengue outbreak in the province, and has decided to make changes in the province's health department as well.
Later, chairing a meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party at the Parliament House, the Prime Minister said the incumbent government would continue exposing the Modi government's fascist designs vis-à-vis occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister Khan directed the parliamentarians to highlight the PTI government's policies on Kashmir effectively.
The sources said that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who was also in attendance, gave a detailed briefing to the parliamentarians on the Prime Minister's successful trip to United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.
The PTI lawmakers lauded the Prime Minister for presenting the Kashmir case at the UNGA effectively, saying he had won the hearts of the people of Pakistan and Kashmir.
According to the sources, in the meeting of PTI parliamentary leaders some lawmakers complained to the Prime Minister about the behavior of some ministers.
The Prime Minister showed resentment over member of the parliamentary party Noor Alam Khan for criticizing the government in the National Assembly over inflation, and stated that the country is facing pressure due to the policies of previous governments and it is unfair to blame the PTI for price hike.