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Pakistan PM dissolves cabinet, will form new

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Feb 10, IRNA -- Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Wednesday dissolved his cabinet shortly after all federal ministers submitted their resignations aimed at improving his government's image.

Gilani will form a new and small cabinet in few days, officials said.

The Prime Minister announced dissolution of in the last meeting of the cabinet, aired live by state television.

“This is the last meeting of the cabinet,” the Prime Minister said. He praised all ministers for their three-year performance and said the cabinet took several important decisions, including approval of key constitutional amendments.

Gilani did not give any reasons for the cabinet dissolution but political analysts say that corruption allegations against several ministers by the opposition parties and media have prompted the action.

The large size of the cabinet with some 62 ministers had also been under criticism from the opposition. Reports suggest that international donors, including the International Monetary Fund, had also reservations over the large size of the cabinet.

Analysts also say that the government is also required to downsize the cabinet according to the provisions of a key constitutional reforms package approved last year. Several federal ministries have also been abolished and given to provinces under the devolution plan.

Last week, the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of President Asif Ali Zardari empowered Prime Minister Gilani to dissolve the cabinet and also form a smaller one.

Sources close to the ruling PPP said that several ministers in the former cabinet will also be included in the new cabinet, based on their previous performance. Ministers with poor performance will not find place, they said.

The Prime Minister is also trying to woo two former allied groups to rejoin the cabinet, who had pulled their ministers due to policy differences with the government. Reports said that new ministers are likely to be inducted into the new cabinet.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30235561