Pakistani Government to Re-size Largest Cabinet Amid Financial Crisis

Strategic Insights -

As Pakistan faces an extreme financial crisis, the government has announced plans to re-size its largest cabinet to reduce government expenditures. According to sources, Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has decided to dissolve the federal cabinet in the coming days, replacing a majority of the current ministers with new faces to increase government efficiency. The move is a response to opposition party demands, led by Mian Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which had given a deadline for the government to implement a 10-point reform agenda, including reducing the cabinet size by 30 percent within 45 days.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Pakistani government has decided to re-size its largest cabinet to alleviate the financial crisis, with plans to dissolve the federal cabinet and replace a majority of the current ministers with new faces.
  • The move is a response to opposition party demands, led by Mian Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which had given a deadline for the government to implement a 10-point reform agenda, including reducing the cabinet size by 30 percent within 45 days.
  • The current cabinet consists of 52 ministers, one of the largest in the world, and the new cabinet is expected to have about 15 ministers, with the possibility of expansion after consultation with ally parties.
  • The government is bound to complete the process of implementing the 18th amendment to the constitution by June 30 this year, which includes devolving 17 ministries to the provinces.
  • The law does not allow the prime minister to dissolve the federal cabinet partially, leading some to suggest that the prime minister may ask selected ministers to resign from their portfolios.
  • The move is seen as a positive signal to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other foreign development partners, who have doubted the government's ability to manage its finances effectively.

Statistics:

  • The current federal cabinet consists of 52 ministers.
  • The new federal cabinet is expected to have about 15 ministers.
  • The government is bound to complete the process of implementing the 18th amendment to the constitution by June 30 this year.
  • The constitution allows the government to appoint 35 ministers from the National assembly and 10 percent of the total 342 seats in the lower house, and four from the upper house.
  • The government is reducing its cabinet size by 30 percent within the next 45 days.

Sources:

  • Xinhua via COMTEX
  • XINHUA NEWS AGENCY
  • Constitution of Pakistan
  • 18th amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan
  • International Monetary Fund (IMF)
  • Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
  • Pakistan People's Party (PPP)