ISLAMABAD: The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Pakistan People's Party on Friday authorised Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to dissolve the cabinet and form a smaller one.

The meeting here at the President House, chaired by Co-Chairman President Asif Ali Zardari authorised the Premier to reappoint a smaller cabinet with fewer ministers.

The decision was taken after the Co-Chairman invited members' comments on his intention to install a ‘lean’ cabinet.

“President Zardari has given the authority to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani ... to dissolve the cabinet whenever he wants,” PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badr told reporters after the meeting.

All the ministers, advisors, special assistants and those holding rank of ministers will cease to hold offices on a date to be decided soon by the prime minister.

Badr said it would be up to the prime minister to determine when the dissolution would happen.

The decision followed criticism that the cabinet, which had more than 50 ministers, is too bloated and costly for a country facing financial crunch.

The main opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had demanded a smaller cabinet as part of a 10-point economic agenda accepted by the ruling party in early January.

Meanwhile, Federal Law Minister Babar Awan has resigned from his ministry.—Dawn.com/Agencies