Islamabad: MNN — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has begun consultations over a possible reshuffle in the federal cabinet. According to government sources, performance reports from various ministries and divisions have started reaching the Prime Minister’s Office and are currently being reviewed. The Prime Minister’s Office had sought detailed performance reports of ministries from February 2024 to date, based on which important decisions regarding changes in the cabinet are expected.
According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also holding individual meetings with various federal ministers. During these meetings, the performance of the respective ministries, progress toward targets and implementation of government priorities are being reviewed. The Prime Minister is expected to complete an overall assessment of the performance of ministries and divisions before final consultations on a possible cabinet reshuffle.
Government sources say there is also consideration of elevating ministers of state who have demonstrated good performance to the position of federal ministers. Decisions are also expected regarding ministries and their heads whose performance has been considered weak. Along with the federal cabinet, changes at the level of the senior bureaucracy are also being considered.
Sources say that reports from two institutions regarding the individual performance of ministers are already with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The reports include assessments of the performance of ministries, progress toward targets and implementation of government policies. The Prime Minister will consider these reports, along with the latest performance reports received from the ministries, while making decisions regarding a possible cabinet reshuffle.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has also called for an assessment of the performance of members of the federal cabinet. According to sources, Naqvi has proposed a third-party audit of the performance of ministries to ensure an impartial assessment of their performance.
Government sources say Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to complete his review of the performance reports of federal ministers and ministries this month, after which significant progress on the cabinet reshuffle is expected. Sources say performance of ministers and ministries will be a key criterion for any changes, rather than political considerations alone.
Sources further say that PML-N President Nawaz Sharif will also be consulted before any reshuffle in the federal cabinet. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will review all relevant reports and proposals before consulting the party leadership, following which a final decision regarding possible changes in the federal cabinet is expected.
