Ishaq Dar appears to be stepping away from the race for finance minister in the upcoming federal cabinet, purportedly due to health concerns, and is expected to be offered the role of foreign minister by newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Reports suggest that renowned banker Muhammad Aurangzeb is poised to take on the mantle of finance minister. Aurangzeb, currently serving as the president of HBL, brings over three decades of rich international banking experience, having held senior management positions, including CEO of JP Morgan’s Global Corporate Bank in Asia.
While the official announcement of the federal cabinet is anticipated to coincide with the presidential election, some potential candidates and their respective portfolios have been floated.
Attaullah Tarar is being considered for the information ministry, with former home minister Rana Sanaullah likely to be appointed as advisor on interior affairs. Ahsan Iqbal is a frontrunner for the interior ministry, while Khawaja Asif is expected to take charge as defence minister.
Anusha Rehman is speculated to be a contender for the IT ministry, and Sardar Yousaf may be appointed as minister for religious affairs. Hanif Abbasi is slated for the health ministry, Musadik Malik for petroleum, and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry for CAD ministry.
In addition, potential cabinet inclusions include MQM-P leader Amin ul Haq, IPP’s Aleem Khan, PML-Q’s Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and PML-N’s Azam Nazir Tarar, Amir Muqam, and Nasir Sidhu. However, their specific portfolios are yet to be disclosed.
Further, Rana Mashhood, Abid Sher Ali, Fawad Hasan Fawad, and Ahad Cheema are expected to assume roles as special assistants to the prime minister.
