ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to expand the federalcabinet.

It has been reported that several key ministries and posts still remainvacant which are hampering the government functions.

The premier has decided to include prominent party leaders from Karachiparticularly Ali Zaidi and Faisal Vawda, while disgruntled party leaderAamir Liaquat Hussain is also in the running for a place in the federalcabinet. While few leaders from KP would also be made part of cabinet.

Sources informed that the decision to expand the cabinet was takenyesterday, but the new ministers will be sworn in after the presidentialelections on September 4. Around eight to ten ministries are likely to beinducted in the federal cabinet. Azam Swati and Ali Amin Gandapur are alsolikely to included.

Imran Khan had unveiled a 21-member cabinet including sixteen ministers andfive advisors after he was sworn in. However, several prominent ministriessuch as transportation, power division, privatisation, national foodsecurity, statistics and water resources still remain without ministers.

The prime minister has decided to retain the influential interior ministrywith himself and appointed Shehryar Afridi as state minister of interior.

It may be mentioned that Aamir Liaquat had shown resentment after he wasreportedly snubbed from a meeting convened at the Governor House and saidthat he was being sidelined from the party.

The television personality had also alleged that Imran Khan had told himthat Karachi had no importance for him, and he is not indebted to partychief for his success as he won the elections due to his own popularityrather than the support of the party.