No threat to NRO beneficiaries in cabinet

ISLAMABAD Government has no intention to show door to any of the NRO beneficiary ministers in the Federal Cabinet, however, the portfolios of a number of ministers in the cabinet would likely be changed due to the planned merger of a number of ministries, sources close to the ruling coalition informed TheNation on Sunday. Brushing aside the impression of any pressure on any of the NRO beneficiary ministers in the Federal Cabinet from Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani or any other topnotch in the government the sources further informed that showing door to any of the NRO beneficiaries would mean exerting pressure on President Asif Ali Zardari as he is also one of the main beneficiaries of the ordinance. The sources in Pakistan Peoples Party informed that the party could only deal with PPP ministers while the ministries doled out to coalition partners were not in its domain so the government would not take any decision in this regard as only the heads of the coalition partners were given the names of their members in the Federal Cabinet. The sources in the PPP said that other than merger the PPP could change the portfolios of some of its ministers on the ground of their unsatisfactory performance. The sources, however, added that in case of the merger of any of the ministries, presently with any of the coalition partners, the coalition partners would be duly accommodated. Giving rationale behind the merger of some ministries which were earlier segregated to accommodate coalition partners would now be remerged owing to financial constraints and to satisfy the foreign donors who were not satisfied with the governance of the incumbent setup, sources further said. In this connection the Prime Minister had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin and the committee had submitted its report to Premier Gilani and after due consultation within the party and with the coalition partners the merger of various ministries would be done in next month or so. The sources further said that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani soon after his return from London had held a detailed meeting with President Zardari in this regard and both the leaders had worked out a strategy, the sources further informed. The committee under Federal Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin in its report had recommended merger of Livestock and Dairy Development with Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Earlier, both these departments were segregated from Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Similarly, Zakat and Ushr and Minorities Affairs would be merged in the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Likewise merger of Investment with Ministry of Privatization, Postal Services and Port and Shipping with Communication, Youth Affairs and Culture with Ministry of Sports, Overseas Pakistanis with Ministry of Labour and Manpower, Special Education and Women Welfare with Ministry of Social Welfare, Textile with Ministry of Industries and Production is also on the cards. It was further proposed that Ministry of Human Rights be abolished and would be made part of the Ministry of Law and Justice while the anti-drugs part of Ministry of Interior.

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