ISLAMABAD: Federal ministers will be sworn in at a ceremony at the presidency on Friday afternoon.

Although there has been no official word about the size of the cabinet and ministers’ portfolios, it is learnt that up to 12 ministers will be sworn in by President Asif Ali Zardari.

According to sources in the PML-N, Ishaq Dar, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pervez Rashid, Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Khurram Dastagir Khan are expected to take oath at the ceremony.

The sources said that Mr Sharif was likely to include a couple of ministers from his coalition partners — the PML-F, the National People’s Party and the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.

Speaking at a TV programme on Thursday, Khawaja Asif said if he was given the portfolio of the water and power ministry he would perform his duty with dedication. He said the PML-N had chalked out a programme to contain and eventually resolve the electricity crisis.

“We have decided to form a cabinet committee on energy to be headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,” he said.

He said Senator Ishaq Dar would be the finance minister and a member of the committee on energy.

He said Shahid Khaqan Abbasi might get the ministry of petroleum and natural resources and he would also be a member of the committee.

The PML-N leader said his party had decided to minimise the duration of loadshedding, especially during the holy month of Ramazan.

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS: The sources said the government was considering to convene a joint session of parliament for the mandatory address of the president. But there was no official confirmation either from the PPP or the PML-N.

PML-N’s Information Secretary Mushahidullah Khan had stated that the president should address the parliament since it was a constitutional requirement.

Presidency’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar has stated that the president will definitely address parliament if he is invited by the prime minister to do so.