" Ishaq Dar out of finance minister race "

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ISLAMABAD: Ishaq Dar seems to be out of the race for finance minister and is likely to be handed over the portfolio of foreign minister, as newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is all set to appoint his federal cabinet.

According to sources, Ishaq Dar, a former finance minister and a close aide of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, is out of the race as he has health issues.

PML-N is likely to give him the portfolio of foreign ministry to Ishaq Dar, sources said

According to sources, renowned banker Muhammad Aurangzeb is all set to become the country’s next finance minister.

Aurangzeb is currently HBL’s president. He has served as the CEO of JP Morgan’s Global Corporate Bank in Asia and has rich international banking experience of over 30 years in other senior management roles.

Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinets set to be sworn in today

While the final announcement of the federal cabinet is likely to be made around the date of the presidential election, some possible names and portfolios have emerged.

Attaullah Tarar is under consideration for the information ministry while former home minister Rana Sanaullah is likely to be appointed the advisor on the interior affairs.

According to sources, Ahsan Iqbal is a leading candidate for the post of interior minister while Khawaja Asif is expected to be defence minister.

Anusha Rehman’s name has emerged as a possible candidate for the IT ministry. Sardar Yousaf is likely to be made minister for religious affairs.

Hanif Abbasi is likely to be the minister for health, Musadik Malik will be chosen for the ministry of petroleum while Tariq Fazal Chaudhry will head the CAD ministry.

MQM-P leader Amin ul Haq, IPP’s Aleem Khan, PML-Q’s Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and PML-N’s Azam Nazir Tarar, Amir Muqam and Nasir Sidhu could also be included in the cabinet, although the possible portfolios are not yet known.

Rana Mashhood, Abid Sher Ali, Fawad Hasan Fawad and Ahad Cheema are likely to become special assistants to the prime minister.

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