ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: The president on Monday granted the status of federal minister to Shaukat Aziz and that of minister of state to two other advisors to the prime minister.

According to a notification, the president, on the advice of the prime minister, granted status of federal minister to Mr Aziz, advisor to the prime minister on finance and economic affairs.

The president appointed Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh advisor to the prime minister on the Board of Investment and privatization with the status of federal minister.

Nilofar Bakhtiar, advisor to the prime minister on women development and social welfare, and Sardar Fateh Ali Umrani, advisor on irrigation with additional responsibility to oversee the affairs of Indus River System Authority, have been given the status of minister of state.

He also approved the names of five members of the National Commission for Human Development on honorary basis.

APP ADDS: Minister of State Habibullah Waraich on Monday took charge of the defence production division.

He was received by Defence Production Secretary Zahid Anis. The minister was introduced to the senior officials and briefed on the working of the division and its attached departments.

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