THE PTI government has become quite adept at cabinet reshuffles. Since it assumed power more than two years ago, it has experimented with its team multiple times. In the most recent such exercise, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was moved from the railways ministry and inducted as the federal minister for interior. Azam Swati, who is already on his second ministerial assignment, was appointed as the railways minister in Sheikh Rashid’s place.

In another significant move, Dr Hafeez Shaikh was elevated from his position as adviser on finance to a full-fledged federal minister for finance. His elevation, however, was spurred by the judgement of the Islamabad High Court which had removed him from the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation because it stated that unelected advisers and special assistants to the prime minister could not head ministries and divisions and could not be members of, or chair, cabinet committees.

Earlier, the court had also stated that an adviser could not head the all-important National Finance Commission. Faced with this predicament, Prime Minister Imran Khan used his powers to appoint any person as a federal minister for a maximum period of six months. It is expected that Hafeez Shaikh will be inducted into the Senate before the expiry of the six-month deadline.

Sheikh Rashid’s appointment as the interior minister is being seen in the context of the Pakistan Democratic Alliance’s agitation movement and a possible long march to Islamabad. However, the larger issue is the government’s inability to settle down with a team that can produce results. Key ministries like finance, interior, information, petroleum and a few others have witnessed multiple changes in command and this suggests shoddy homework in terms of team selection. It does not inspire much confidence if appointments at such a senior level, with such high stakes, are a byproduct of a process of trial and error.

Ministers are expected to set a policy direction for their ministries and provide the framework for how to meld governance vision with project implementation. This requires clarity of vision and consistency of execution. It cannot happen in fits and starts and it should not be held hostage to the whims of team selection. Unfortunately, this is exactly what continues to happen under the PTI government’s watch.

With almost half of its five-year term consumed with such impetuous portfolio distribution, it may be prudent for Prime Minister Khan to settle down with a team that will see this government through till the next election. A constant flux within cabinet membership is keeping the ministers on tenterhooks and other hopefuls queuing outside with greedy anticipation. Such fluctuations take a toll on the overall performance of the government, and it is showing. It is better to give ministers confidence than to have them constantly looking over their shoulders.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2020