Members of the caretaker cabinet of Gilgit-Baltistan are set to take oath today, formally launching the interim government nearly five weeks after the appointment of the caretaker chief minister.
The oath-taking ceremony will be held at 11:00 am at the Governor’s House in Gilgit. The oath will be administered by Nazir Ahmed, Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly.
The caretaker cabinet comprises 14 members, including 12 ministers and 2 advisers. One woman is included in the interim setup. Caretaker Chief Minister Yar Mohammad, a retired judge, took the oath on November 26 last year.
After a delay of one month and seven days, the caretaker cabinet was officially notified on January 2. The appointments were approved by Shehbaz Sharif in his role as chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council, following advice from the caretaker chief minister.
According to the official notification, Colonel (retd) Abrar Ismail has been assigned the portfolios of finance, planning and development. Engineer Altaf Hussain will oversee local government and rural development. Mehrdad has been appointed minister for food, while Maulana Sarwar Shah will handle minerals and industries.
Read: President Approves Gilgit-Baltistan General Elections for January 2026
Maulana Sharafat Din has been given the charge of forests, wildlife, and environment. Syed Adeel Shah will oversee sports, culture, and youth affairs, while Engineer Mumtaz Hussain will lead the water and power department.
Bahadur Ali has been assigned the ministries of education and law, and Dr Niaz Ali will head the health department. Raja Shahbaz Khan will manage tourism, excise and taxation, as well as works and communications. Syeda Fatima will oversee social welfare, population welfare, and women’s development.
Abdul Hakeem has been given responsibility for agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and water management.
The caretaker administration will remain in place until a new elected government is formed following the next Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections. The previous provincial cabinet was formally dissolved after the assembly completed its constitutional term on November 24 last year.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly held its final session earlier, during which members from both treasury and opposition benches reviewed their five-year performance, highlighting achievements and challenges faced during the outgoing government’s tenure.
The last GB Assembly elections were held on November 15, 2020, across 24 constituencies. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf formed the government, with Khalid Khurshid elected as chief minister.
In July 2023, the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court disqualified Khurshid, leading to the formation of a coalition government comprising dissident PTI members, the Pakistan Peoples Party, and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. The coalition elected Haji Gulbar Khan as chief minister.
