From slashing motorcade protocol by half to setting examples of punctuality, newly-appointed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah is making headlines these days. Apart from the provincial chief executive, the new cabinet consists of nine members.
Murad Ali Shah – Chief Minister of Sindh
An engineer with MSc from Stanford University, Murad Ali Shah contested the provincial assembly seat from PS-73 Jamshoro-cum-Dadu (Old Dadu-III).
He was elected to the Sindh Assembly for a third consecutive time in 2013. He was subsequently assigned the finance ministry in the provincial cabinet.
Murad Ali Shah has served as an MPA from 2002-2007. His father, Syed Abdullah Shah, was the Chief Minister of Sindh in the early 1970s. Syed Abdullah Shah had also served as speaker and deputy speaker in the provincial assembly. He was also elected as senator in 1991.
Murad Ali Shah has also served as junior engineer with the Water and Power Development Authority from 1986-89, and executive engineer (Port Qasim Authority) in 1990. The two mentioned posts were awarded to him by the then federal government.
For the Government of Sindh, Shah worked as an assistant engineer at the Hyderabad Development Authority, and as project director (Karachi Fish Harbour Authority).
Nisar Ahmed Khuhro – Minister for Food Department and Parliamentary Affairs
An agriculturist by profession, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro is a former opposition leader of the provincial assembly. Before his 1997 stint, he had also served as deputy opposition leader in 1990.
Khuhro has a political career that spans over three decades. He was the district president of Pakistan People’s Party (Larkana) in 1990; vice president of PPP Sindh in 1993, and president of the party’s Sindh wing in 1997.
Mukesh Kumar Chawla – Minister for Excise and Taxation
The only MPA in the Sindh Cabinet representing a minority group, Mukesh Kumar Chawla hold a Masters’ degree in Political Science from the University of Sindh, Jamshoro.
This 40-year-old Jacobabad-born politician was first elected as member of the provincial assembly in 2002; a post which he served till 2007. His sister, Ratna Chawla, was a senator from 2006-2012.
Makhdoom Jameeluz Zaman – Minister for Revenue and Relief
A son of late PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Makhdoom Jameeluz Zaman was elected as Member of Provincial Assembly from PS-35, Hyderabad-I, in 1997.
He was again elected an MPA from PS-43, Hyderabad-I, in 2002 – with 55,692 votes as 2,160 of his opponent. It was the highest number of votes secured by any member in the Sindh Assembly.
He has served as chairman of Talibul Moula Academy and as vice chairman of Bazme Talibul Moula. He was also a member of Sindhi Adabi Board of Governors, chairman of the mentioned institute’s standing committee, and a member of University of Sindh’s Institute of Sindhiology Board of Governors.
Dr Sikandar Ali Mandhro – Minister for Health
An MPA from PS-58 Badin-II (old Badin IV), Dr Sikandar Ali Mandhro is a member of various provincial bodies such as Standing Committee on Finance and Inter Provincial Coordination, Standing Committee on Health, Standing Committee on Irrigation and Power, Standing Committee on Planning and Development – of which he is also the chairperson.
Shamim Mumtaz – Minister for Social Welfare
A trainer-teacher by profession, Shamim Mumtaz is a member of various provincial bodies such as Standing Committee on Higher, Technical Education and Research, School Education (up to Matriculation) and Special Education; Standing Committee on Labour and Human Resources; Standing Committee on Minorities Affairs, Standing Committee on Energy (chairperson), and Standing Committee on Special Education.
She has also served as counsellor of the local city government from 2002-2005. She has also served as co-chairperson of Ushar and Zakat Committee of the local city government from 2002-2009.
Jam Khan Shoro – Minister for Local Government and HTP
With academic qualifications of LLB and B Com, Jam Khan Shoro (MPA from PS-47 Hyderabad-III) will continue his portfolio in the Sindh Cabinet as Minister for Local Government, Housing and Town Planning.
Sohail Anwar Siyal – Minister for Agriculture, Supply and Prices
A landlord who contested the provincial assembly seat from PS-35 Larkana-I, Sohail Anwar Siyal will continue his portfolio in the Sindh Cabinet as Minister from Agriculture, Supply and Prices.
Sohail Anwar Siyal is also a former home minister. His uncle, Ghulam Serwar Khan Siyal, was also a member of the provincial assembly (MPA) in 2008.
Syed Sardar Ali Shah – Minister for Culture, Tourism and Antiquities
An MPA from PS-69 Umerkot-cum-Sanghar (Old Mirpurkhas-VI) who is a poet and a columnist, Sardar Shah is a member of various provincial bodies such as Standing Committee on Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights; Public Accounts Committee; Standing Committee on Information, Science and Technology, and Standing Committee on Irrigation.
Sardar Shah has also served as Nazim of the local city government from 2001-2005. His uncle, Syed Ali Mardan Shah, is also a serving MPA.
Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar – Minister for Education and Literacy
An MPA from PS-5 Ghotki-I, Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar is an MBBS from Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro. He has also served as Minister for Population, Welfare and Revenue from 2008-13.
Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar has also served as member of the provincial assembly (MPA) on two separate occasions; from 2002-07 and 2008-13.
