Former minister finance minister Asad Umar will make a return to the federal cabinet as the minister for planning and special initiatives, the government chief spokesperson Firdous Ashiq Awan announced recently.
She said as part of an expansion in the cabinet, Khusro Bakhtiar, who was until now serving as the minister for planning and development, will be made the federal minister for petroleum. The petroleum and natural resources portfolio was held by Ghulam Sarwar Khan until the cabinet reshuffle in April.
Asad Umar on Tuesday took oath as minister for planning, development and reforms. President Arif Alvi administered the oath to Asad Umar at a ceremony held at the President House Islamabad.
Meanwhile according to a notification from the cabinet division, Khusro Bakhtiar was given the portfolio of federal ministry of National Food Security and Research on Tuesday,. Bakhtiar was relocated to the ministry after former finance minister Asad Umar was appointed Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform–the portfolio held by Bakhtiar. On Monday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, in a tweet, revealed the reshuffle in the cabinet, saying Umar has replaced Bakhtyar as minister for planning and development, while the latter has been given the petroleum portfolio.
