Federal Caretaker Cabinet: As the caretaker federal cabinet undertakes responsibility for running Pakistan’s day-to-day affairs, the spotlight turns to the members of the interim government’s cabinet. The responsibility of this caretaker cabinet is to ensure free and equitable elections in the country. The Hum Investigation Team has investigated the profiles and career credentials of the interim prime minister and his cabinet members, some of whom have well-known political affiliations and have served in a variety of capacities. Here’s an in-depth look:
Federal Judges Uphold Rights: State Laws Disobeying Gender-Affirming Care for Minors Rejected
Lt-Gen (retd) Anwar Ali Hyder Caretaker Defence Minister
Having served in Pakistan for more than three decades, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Anwar Ali Hyder provides a wealth of experience to his position. Notably, he presided over the Naya Pakistan Housing Development Authority under the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration. His affiliation with the Army Welfare Trust underscores the significance of his contributions.
Dr. Nadeem Jan Minister of Health Interim
Dr. Nadeem Jan, an expert in health issues, has assumed the role of interim minister of health. His comprehensive background includes work with prominent organizations such as the United Nations, the United States Agency for International Development, the World Bank, and the Gates Foundation.
Gohar Ejaz Federal Minister Interim
Federal Caretaker Cabinet: Gohar Ejaz, chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, is a prominent figure in Pakistan. His credentials include a bachelor’s degree in business, and he is the CEO of the “Ejaz Group Of Companies,” which includes Ejaz Spinning Mills Limited and Ejaz Textile Mills Limited.
Aniq Ahmed Caretaker Minister of Religion
Aniq Ahmed, who serves as the interim minister of religion, is a religious scholar and the presenter of a national television program. He worked in the field of religion and had a solid grasp of social and religious affairs, as well as a keen interest in Islamic studies.
Umar Saif Interim IT and Telecommunications Minister
Umar Saif, a prominent IT figure, is the CEO of aiSight.ai and holds multiple leadership positions. His academic credentials and advisory positions demonstrate his dedication to technological advancement. Chief Digital Officer of Jang Group and Chief Executive Officer of Khudi Ventures. In addition, he serves as a consultant for the United Nations Development Programme in Pakistan. At the age of 22, Saif earned his doctorate from the University of Cambridge.
Jamal Shah Minister Interim
Federal Caretaker Cabinet: Jamal Shah, the caretaker minister, is a multifaceted individual with experience as an actor, director, painter, and devoted social worker. Shah, who was born in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan in 1956, has left an indelible impression on the artistic landscape with his multifaceted abilities.
In 1984, as a result of his dedication to the arts, Shah founded the Fine Arts Department at the University of Balochistan, where he subsequently presided for three years. In 1985, he established the Artists Association of Balochistan and became its first chairman within the Artists Association of Pakistan.
Jamal Shah’s 1978 Master of Arts in English literature from Balochistan University demonstrates his well-rounded intellectual pursuits. His artistic journey proceeded in 1983 at the National College of Arts in Lahore, where he honed his art-related skills. Notably, his pursuit of artistic proficiency led him to London’s prestigious Slade School of Art, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts.
Shah’s dedication to the artistic community extended to his position at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts, where he worked to improve the health of the film and theater industries. Jamal Shah’s legacy as an influential figure in the artistic sphere of Pakistan has been cemented by his multifaceted contributions.
Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar Human Rights Interim Minister
From August 2017 to May 2018, Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar served as interim Minister for Human Rights in the cabinet commanded by then-prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. His political career also included membership in the Pakistani National Assembly from 1988 to May 2018.
Khalil George Minister Interim for Minorities
Federal Caretaker Cabinet: Khalil George, a former member of the National Assembly, is now Caretaker Minister for Minorities, reflecting his well-known commitment to promoting minority rights.
Senator Sarfaraz Bugti Acting Interior Minister
Senator Sarfaraz Bugti’s prior position as home minister in the administration of Balochistan bolsters his qualifications for the position of interim interior minister. In addition to his educational heritage, his representation of Balochistan in the Upper House bolsters his credentials.
Ahmad Irfan Aslam Interim Minister of Law
Mr. Ahmad Irfan Aslam, the interim minister of law, is an experienced attorney who specializes in international disputes. He has also served as the head of the International Disputes Unit in the Office of the Attorney General of Pakistan and as a member of foreign missions. Notably, he advocated for Pakistan in significant cases, including Rikodiq, on numerous international legal platforms.
Dr. Shamshad Akhtar Finance Minister Interim
Dr. Shamshad Akhtar assumes the position of interim Finance Minister. She also worked as a financier and served as Pakistan’s interim finance minister a decade ago, in addition to being a renowned Pakistani development economist. Her distinguished career includes serving as the fourteenth Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, as a senior adviser to then-United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and as Vice-President of the World Bank. In addition, she served as the 10th Secretary-General of the Monetary and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in 2013.
Jalil Abbas Jilani Interim Minister of Foreign Affairs
Federal Caretaker Cabinet: Jalil Abbas Jilani is a highly experienced diplomat who assumed the position of Interim Minister of Foreign Affairs today. He held the positions of Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States and secretary of foreign affairs for an extended period of time. His legacy is distinguished by his diplomatic acumen and abilities, and he has served Pakistan’s interests as a career diplomat for 36 years.
Madd Ali Sindhi Education Minister Interim
Interim Education Minister Madad Ali Sindhi is a seasoned journalist and accomplished author. He has devoted over three decades to literature and culture out of a profound love for the arts and for writing. Additionally, he is a prolific author of numerous Sindhi novels.
Mohammad Ali Federal Interim Minister
Mohammad Ali, the current interim Federal Minister, was formerly the Chairman of the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). He contributed to the PTI government by leading an energy-related task force.
Murtaza Solangi Interim Minister of Information
Murtaza Solangi, who has over 30 years of experience and a background in journalism, has held critical positions with renowned media organizations.
Wasi Shah Minister of Tourism Interim
Federal Caretaker Cabinet: Wasi Shah, the current Minister of Tourism in Caretaker Capacity, is a distinguished writer and well-known television personality. As an accomplished poet, Shah’s body of work consists of numerous poetry collections that explore various dimensions of life. His poetic creations, ranging from heartfelt nazams and soulful ghazals to resonant romantic and love shayari (poetry), have captivated the hearts of countless readers.
Sami Saeed Minister of Caretaking
Former Cabinet Secretary Sami Saeed brings a wealth of experience to his position as interim caretaker. In 2014-15, he was appointed Executive Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) after having served as Cabinet Secretary under former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Saeed’s influence transcended borders, as he served as ADB Executive Director in Manila until 2018.
Vice-Admiral (ret.) Iftikhar Ahmed Rao Caretaker minister
Vice Admiral Iftikhar Ahmed Rao (Retired) has been appointed Minister of Maritime Affairs, bringing four decades of experience to this crucial position. Vice Admiral Rao’s distinguished career in shipboard command, naval aviation, and strategic leadership positions him to influence Pakistan’s maritime landscape.
His extensive on-board and ship command experience, as well as his position as a naval aviator, empower him with a thorough understanding of maritime operations. His position as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) exemplifies his strategic acumen and commitment to advancing naval capabilities.
In addition, Vice Admiral Rao’s participation in the Gwadar Port Implementation Committee during its formative stages demonstrates his dedication to promoting maritime infrastructure development. His contributions to the early phases of the Gwadar Port Project were crucial to its development.
As Managing Director of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works, Vice Admiral Rao’s leadership has been instrumental in guiding the company’s successful turnaround. His innovative approach to maritime engineering and management has shaped the trajectory of the shipyard.
Jawad Sorab Malik
Federal Caretaker Cabinet: As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Sohrab Foundation, Jawad Sohrab Malik stands at the intersection of commerce and politics. Malik, who served in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, comes from a distinguished political and commercial family in Islamabad. His familial ties to the prominent Pakistani politician Mohammed Mian Soomro bolster his influence.
Ahad Chemeh
Ahad Cheema, a retired civil servant, rose from humble agricultural origins to become a visionary leader. Cheema’s tenure as CEO of Quaid-i-Azam Thermal Power Company (QATPC) extended into Shehbaz Sharif’s administration. Cheema is well-known for his role as CEO of QATPC under the Punjab government. The success of the World Bank-funded “Parha Likha Punjab” initiative was largely attributable to his adept administration and dedication.
Dr. Waqar Masood Khan Interim Adviser
Retired civil servant and Caretaker Adviser Dr. Waqar Masood Khan is respected for his influence in both the public and private sectors. Armed with a Ph.D. in Economics and a diverse academic background, his contributions extend from academia to policymaking, fostering a dynamic economic landscape.
Mushaal Mullick Caretaker Consultant
Caretaker Consultant In recent years, Mushaal Mullick, the wife of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, has gained extensive recognition due to her influential presence and distinguished career. Her reputation has become synonymous with advocacy and tenacity. Malik, who serves as the Chairman of Peace and Culture for Indian-Occupied Kashmir, has been steadfast in her pursuit of peace and in her opposition to Indian aggression. In addition to being a fervent advocate for freedom and justice, she is also renowned as a craft revivalist committed to protecting the rights of the marginalized.
Farhat Hussain Khan Former Air Marshal
With a distinguished career encompassing aviation, industrial management, diplomacy, and negotiations, Air Marshal (Retired) Farhat Hussain Khan brings an abundance of knowledge to the table. His service as Pakistan’s Air Attaché in New Delhi, India exemplified his diplomatic abilities. Upon his retirement, Khan embarked on an extraordinary voyage to shape Pakistan’s aircraft manufacturing sector in collaboration with a private sector partner. At the helm of Scaled Aviation Pvt Ltd, the first and only aircraft manufacturing company in Pakistan, he has ushered in a new era of aerospace development.
Arfa Zehra Education Caretaker Advisor
Education Advisory Position Syeda Arfa Zehra is a proponent of education. Zehra is both a writer and a historian. She formerly served as the principal of Lahore College for Women University. She served as the National Commission on the Status of Women’s chair.
She has also served as an interim minister in the Punjab cabinet. Recognized for her expertise in Urdu language and literature, she has a command of South Asian social issues, particularly in Pakistan.