Cabinet Expansion in Punjab
The Punjab government has expanded its provincial cabinet, appointing Rana Muhammad Iqbal and Mansha-Allah Butt as new ministers. The two were sworn in at a simple yet dignified ceremony held at the Governor’s House in Lahore, where Governor Sardar Salim Haider administered the oath of office.
This marks the latest phase in Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s efforts to make her administration more dynamic and effective. The induction of new ministers is seen as part of a broader initiative to enhance governance and improve coordination across various departments in Pakistan’s most populous province.
Ceremony Attended by Senior Officials
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Provincial Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, and Anusha Rehman, recently appointed as an adviser to the chief minister. Several other cabinet members and senior government officials were also present.
During the event, participants congratulated the newly appointed ministers on assuming their responsibilities and expressed good wishes for their future performance. The ceremony, while modest in scale, reflected the provincial government’s commitment to institutional stability and administrative efficiency.
Strengthening Provincial Governance
Officials say the cabinet expansion is aimed at distributing workloads more evenly and ensuring that key policy areas receive focused attention. Punjab, home to over 110 million people, faces significant governance challenges, including economic management, infrastructure development, and improving public service delivery.
By adding new ministers, the government seeks to accelerate policy implementation in critical sectors such as education, health, and local government. The new ministers are expected to receive their respective departmental portfolios in the coming days.
Observers view the move as a signal of continuity and consolidation within the provincial leadership, emphasizing stability and responsiveness at a time when administrative reforms are high on the government’s agenda.
