The government on Friday assigned additional portfolios of Health, Religious Affairs and Zakat and Usher, Tourism and Industries to Pakistan People's Party (PPP) parliamentarians. According to a notification by Cabinet Division, Information Minister Sherry Rehman will also be looking after the Ministry of Health.
If the government is really giving media a free hand with responsibility, Sherry will be having ample time to look after other ministers' work, lessening the monetary burden on the already resources-starved economy. Privatisation Minister Naveed Qamar has been given extra responsibility of Industries and Production Ministry, as work in PC is standstill after apex court decision on privatisation of Steel Mills.
Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, will look after Ministry of Religious Affairs, Zakat and Usher, whereas Parvaiz Ashraf, Minister for Water and Power, will look after the Ministry of Tourism.
These four Ministers would keep on taking care of additional portfolios, at least till the induction of more ministers into the Cabinet. Meanwhile, the second batch, of about two dozen ministers, is likely to be sworn some time in May.