GILGIT: Seven newly sworn-in members of the Gilgit-Baltistan cabinet were formally assigned their ministerial portfolios on Wednesday following a notification from the regional government.

The ministers, all belonging to the PPP, had taken their oaths of office during a ceremony administered by Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah at the Governor House in Gilgit.

According to an official notification issued by the Gilgit-Baltistan Services, General Administration and Cabinet Department, the allocations were made by the chief minister under sub-rule (4) of rule 3 of the Gilgit-Baltistan Rules of Business, 2009.

The notification showed Muhammad Ali Akhtar was handed the Finance Department, while Iqbal Hassan took charge as health minister.

Syed Jalal Shah was entrusted with Planning and Development, and Muhammad Naseem received the Communications and Works (C&W) Department.

Raja Nasir Ali Khan was appointed Minister for Forest, Wildlife, Parks and Environment, with additional charge of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry.

Naiknaam Karim was named Minister for Tourism, Sports, Culture and Heritage, while Zulfiqar Ali Murad was assigned the Local Government and Rural Development portfolio.

Four cabinet members representing the IPP did not attend Monday’s swearing-in ceremony. They were apparently unavailable in Gilgit-Baltistan due to engagements in Skardu with their party chief, Abdul Aleem Khan.

A fifth absentee, PPP cabinet member Syed Tuqeer Mahdi — who is the son of Governor Syed Mehdi Shah — was also unable to take his oath after being stranded in Skardu due to the closure of the Baltistan Road.

Sources said the remaining five cabinet members will take their oaths and be assigned their respective portfolios at a ceremony in the coming days.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2026