Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has decided to reshuffle the federal cabinet prior to Ramzan Mubarik to accommodate the left over PML-Q ministers.
Official sources told Online that the reshuffling of the cabinet is expected next week and in this regard Prime Minister has completed consultation with the president and PML-Q.
After the devolution of Ministries of Minorities affairs, health and labour and manpower, the PML-Q ministers who were left without a department would be given new departments.
To this effect it has been decided to establish Ministry for interfaith harmony in place of minorities affairs, while departments of education, social welfare and population which are with the centre would be merged and a new ministry would be formed with the name of Ministry for Social Affairs. The departments of Ministry of food and agriculture which are still with the centre would be joined to form ministry for food security.
Official sources further said that ministry of housing and construction would be bifurcated and two new ministries with the name of Housing and Works would be made.
It has also been learnt that Prime Minister and Ch Shujaat Hussain have managed to woo PML-Q Amir Muqam and after the reshuffling he would be allotted a portfolio. On the other hand finance minister Hafeez Sheikh has expressed his interest to include Chairman ERRA Hamid Yar Hiraj into his team and make him state minister of economic affairs. Hamid Hiraj so far has not responded.