QUETTA, June 13: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said that he will announce his cabinet soon.

Talking to newsmen after attending the oath-taking ceremony of the new governor on Thursday, he said the provincial cabinet could not formed as yet because of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s preoccupation with the federal budget.

“We need to form a cabinet because we have to present the provincial budget before June 30,” Mr Malik said. Consultations between coalition parties were under way, he added.

In reply to a question, the chief minister welcomed the appointment of the nominee of the Pakhtunkhawa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) as governor in “deference to the wishes of Pakhtoons”.

“It is a moment of great pleasure that the governor has been appointed as per the choice of the PkMAP,” he said.

Sources said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had summoned Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, provincial parliamentary leader of the PML-N, to Islamabad to consult him about the formation of the Balochistan cabinet.

PkMAP chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai and the National Party’s senior vice president, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, are already in Islamabad.

The sources said there were some differences between coalition partners about sharing the ministries. The PML-N leadership wanted the portfolio of senior minister, but the PkMAP was also vying for the same position, they said.

According to the sources, the PkMAP has suggested that five ministries each should be given to the three coalition partners, but the other two did not agree.

They said Mr Sharif would take a decision in a few days.