Cabinet Reshuffles: Khusro Bakhtiar removed as food security minister, replaces Hammad Azhar

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Khusro Bakhtiar on Monday has resigned from the post and has now been appointed as minister for economic affairs, replacing Hammad Azhar.

The move came after Prime Minister Imran Khan reshuffled the federal cabinet, a few days after the FIA report revealed that top PTI leaders benefited the most, with others, from the sugar crisis.

The PM assigned Azhar the portfolio of industries; Azam Swati has been made the minister of narcotics control. Babar Awan has been made the advisor for parliamentary affairs, replacing Swati.

Omar Hameed also has been transferred and appointed as Secretary Ministry of National Food Security.

Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui’s resignation as federal minister has been accepted, while MQMP’s Amin-ul-Haq has been appointed as Federal Minister for Telecommunication.

Shehzad Arbab, the Advisor to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Establishment,  has been removed from his position.

Abdul Razak Dawood, the PM’s adviser on commerce, textile, industry and production, and investment, was also removed from his position, sources said. It is still unclear if he had been given another post.

Furthermore, Hashim Popalzai has been removed as Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

Jahangir Tareen, in a tweet denied reports saying that he was removed as the chair of the agricultural task force, urging people to “get your facts right”.

However, former spokesperson Punjab government and PTI leader Dr Shahbaz Gill took to Twitter and said that Tareen had been removed as the chairperson of the board.