2 acting ministers, 11 deputies appointed in new govt

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Taliban government has appointed two acting ministers for health and economy and nearly a dozen deputy ministers and heads of three independent departments, an official said on Tuesday.

Deputy Minister of Information Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference today said: “The appointments have been made based on a decree from Amir-ul-Momineen.”

Haji Nooruddin Azizi, a resident of Panjsher province, has been named as economy minister, Haji Mohammad Bashir, resident of Baghlan as his first deputy and Haji Mohammad Azim Sultanzada, from Sar-i-Pul, as second deputy minister.

Dr. Qalandar Ebad appointed as minister of public health, Dr. Abdul Bari Omari as his first deputy and Dr. Mohammad Hassan Ghiasi as second deputy.

Mullah Mohammad Ibrahim is appointed as deputy minister of security, Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir as deputy minister of defence, Eng. Nazar Mohammad Motamin as acting national Olympic Committee head, Eng. Mujib Rahman Omar as deputy minister of water and energy.

Haji Ghulam Ghaws, deputy minister for national disasters, Dr. Mohammad Faqeer as director of National Statistic and Information Authority, Haji Gul Mohammad deputy minister of borders, Gul Zareen Kochi as second deputy for border ministry.

ArsalaKharodi was appointed as deputy minister of refugees, Dr. LatfullahKhairkhwa as deputy for the Ministry of Higher Education and Eng. Najibullah as director of nuclear energy.

Mujahid said: “Professionalism and competence have been taken into consideration. The structure of the Islamic Emirate will be further strengthened and standardized.”

Mujahid said minorities had been taken into account in the new appointments and they were working to ensure that women were also employed in various positions.

"The swearing-in ceremony has been canceled and the leadership considered to it important start work directly and provide services instead of wasting time because the institutions are closed for a long time,” Mujahid added.

sa/ma