Asad Umar takes oath as planning minister

Published November 20, 2019
PTI leader Asad Umar previously served as finance minister for about eight months.
PTI leader Asad Umar previously served as finance minister for about eight months.

ISLAMABAD: Former finance minister Asad Umar made his way back to the federal cabinet on Tuesday as he was sworn in as the minister for planning and development.

President Dr Arif Alvi administered the oath to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MNA from Islamabad at a ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr.

His predecessor in the planning ministry Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar was given the portfolio of minister for national food security, which was previously held by Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan, sources said.

Mr Sultan has now been made the federal minister for States and Frontier Regions, the ministry that was previously headed by Shehryar Afridi as a minister of state.

Khusro Bakhtiar made minister for food security

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan had stated in a tweet on Monday that Mr Umar would replace Mr Bakhtiar as minister for planning and development while the latter would be given the portfolio of petroleum minister.

Mr Umar served as the finance minister for about eight months, from Aug 20 last year to April 18 this year.

At the time of his removal from the finance ministry, the prime minister had offered him the portfolio of petroleum minister, but he had declined, saying he would work for the party from outside the cabinet.

According to the sources, more changes are expected to be made in the cabinet in the next few days.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...