ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to expand the federal cabinet after the budget 2024-25 and has invited the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), a key ally, to join the federal government.
Sources said that senior political leaders from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and allied parties will be included in the cabinet after budget.
MQM-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) will get 2, 2 ministries each, they say
Additionally, to woo PPP, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal has been given an important task by the PML-N leadership.
It is important to note that after the elections, the PPP decided against joining the PML-N alliance in the Centre and Punjab but voted for Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister.
Earlier, The PML-N pressing the People’s Party to join the coalition government in Centre, citing the PPP sources.
The PPP sources said that the PML-N has contacted directly and via mutual friends inviting the party to join the government.
“The PML-N yesterday invited the PPP to be the part of the government and earlier at the oath taking of Aseefa Bhutto as MNA, was also extended invitation,” PPP sources said.
The party has been invited to join the federal as well as Punjab government as an ally.
“The PPP didn’t respond to the government over the offer, neither the party held consultations over the issue,” sources said. Sources said that the PPP leadership has been under pressure to join the government. The party’s parliamentarians from Sindh backing to join the government. –Agencies
