Pakistan PM announces major cabinet reshuffle

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has made a sweeping cabinet reshuffle after only seven months in power.

He has announced 10 ministerial appointments in a shakeup that includes the departure of Finance Minister Asad Umar, who is a close ally of Khan.

The reshuffle comes as the country is going through a serious economic crisis.

It is on the verge of signing up for its 13th International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout since the late 1980s to shore up its finances.

Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, who served as finance minister from 2010-2013 under the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has been appointed as "Adviser on Finance".

Meanwhile, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has been moved to the science and technology ministry, while retired Brigadier Ijaz Ahmed Shah has been appointed as Interior Minister and energy expert Nadeem Babar has been appointed to lead the petroleum ministry.