Twelve ministers of the Gilgit-Baltistan caretaker cabinet took oath on Tuesday at a ceremony held at the Governor’s House in Gilgit. Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Nazir Ahmad Advocate administered the oath, marking the formal induction of the interim cabinet ahead of the next political transition.
The ceremony was attended by Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad, the chief secretary, the inspector general of police, senior government officials, representatives of various institutions, and local dignitaries. The event highlighted the administration’s focus on continuity of governance during the caretaker period.
Before the oath-taking, the government issued an official notification assigning portfolios to the newly inducted ministers. The distribution of departments aimed to ensure the smooth functioning of key sectors across the region. Sajid Ali Baig received the Interior and Jail Affairs portfolio, while Ghulam Abbas was assigned Information and Information Technology.
Colonel (retd) Abrar Ismail took charge of Finance and Planning and Development, and Engineer Altaf Hussain assumed responsibility for Local Government and Rural Development. Mehrdad was given the Food department, while Maulana Sarwar Shah received Minerals and Industries.
Female representation and advisory roles included
Maulana Sharafat Din was assigned Forests, Wildlife, and Environment, and Syed Adil Shah received Sports, Culture, and Youth Affairs. Engineer Mumtaz Hussain assumed the Water and Power portfolio, while Bahadur Ali took charge of Education and Law. Dr Niaz Ali was assigned Health, and Raja Shehbaz Khan received Tourism, Excise and Taxation, along with Works and Communications.
Syeda Fatima, the only female member of the 14-member caretaker cabinet, was entrusted with Social Welfare, Population, and Women’s Development.
Meanwhile, Advisor Abdul Hakim was given Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Water Management.
Officials said the caretaker setup aims to ensure administrative stability and uninterrupted public services until an elected government takes charge. The cabinet is expected to focus on routine governance, development oversight, and maintaining law and order across Gilgit-Baltistan.
