KABUL: Afghanistan’s newly-appointed 16 cabinet ministers have taken oath during an impressive ceremony at the presidential palace in Kabul.
President Ashraf Ghani administered the oath of office to the new cabinet ministers.After much delay, the 16 new nominees received vote of confidence from the lower house of parliament on Saturday.
All of those who have been sworn in at a ceremony in Kabul are new faces. For the first time four of them are women.
The swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday was attended by the senior government and security officials including chief executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, first vice president Abdul Rashid Dostum, and second vice president Mohammad Sarwar Danish.
The newly-appointed ministers who were sworn in include Homayoun Rasa as the Minister of Commerce and Industries; Farida Momand as the Minister of Higher Education; Asadullah Hanif Balkhi as the Minister of Education.
Asadullah Zamir took over as the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock; Abdul Bari Jahani as the Minister of Information and Culture; Ali Ahmad Osmani as the Minister of Energy and Water; Sayed Saadat Mansoor Naderi as the Minister of Urban Development Affairs.
Nasreen Oryakhil took over as the Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled; Dilbar Nazari as the Minister of Women Affairs; Mohammadullah Batash as the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation; Abdul Satar Murad as the Minister of Economy.
Abdul Basir Anwar took over as the Minister of Justice; Abdul Razaq Wahidi as the Minister of Communication and Information Technology; Mahmood Baligh as the Minister of Public Works.
Salamat Azimi took over as the Minister of Counter-Narcotics; Mohammad Gulab Mangal as the Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs.
While all the cabinet slots have been filled, the Ministry of Defense portfolio is still lying vacant, following the withdrawal of nomination by Lt. Gen. Mohammad Afzal Ludin
President Ghani congratulated the new ministers and urged them to serve the country and its people.
While all the cabinet slots have been filled, the Ministry of Defense portfolio is still lying vacant, following the withdrawal of nomination by Afzal Ludin.
