LAHORE: Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood on Tuesday took oath as Governor Punjab on Tuesday, DawnNews reported.

Chief Justice Lahore High Court Umar Ata Bandial administered the oath to Mahmood.

After his swearing in as the provincial governor, Mahmood said his appointment would lead to improvement in the Punjab's situation.

He added that his first priority would be to work for the betterment and welfare of the people.

Mahmood said his appointment as governor was "not the result of backdoor diplomacy".

Earlier last week, President Asif Ali Zardari had offered the post of Punjab governor to Mahmood, formerly the provincial president of the Pakistan Muslim League - Functional, and the offer had been accepted.

“President Zardari today offered me Punjab governorship which I have accepted,” Mahmood told Dawn at the time.

A source told Dawn, President Zardari wanted a man like Mahmood in Punjab because of his ‘good relations’ with PML-N leaders.

Mahmood replaced Sardar Latif Khosa who had been appointed Punjab governor on January 13, 2011.