ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday ordered bifurcation of the Ministry of Privatisation and Investment into two separate ministries.

A memorandum of the Cabinet Division said the premier in terms of rule 3(2) of the Rules of Business 1973 had taken the decision to be effective immediately.

These two ministries will be named — Ministry of Privatisation comprising privatisation division and Ministry of Investment consisting of Investment Division.

Necessary amendments in the Rules of Business 1973 will be made accordingly, added the announcement.

The PPP-led government appointed Naveed Qamar as minister for privatisation and investment before he was given the additional charge of finance ministry after resignation of Ishaq Dar.

But recently, after appointment of Shaukat Tarin as adviser on finance and revenue, the government has also changed the portfolio of Mr Qamar to Minister for Ports and Shipping with additional charge of Privatisation and investment.

Though the government has withdrawn the responsibility of investment division from Mr Qamar, but it has yet to notify a new minister for investment division or to give additional charge to one of the existing ministers.