The federal government has issued a notification for the appointment of eight more special assistants to the Prime Minister, bringing the number of special assistants to 25, reported 24NewsHD TV Channel Wednesday.

The notification states, “The Prime Minister, in terms of rule 4 (6) of Rules of Business 1973, has been pleased to appoint the following Special Assistants to the Prime Minister with immediate effect.”

Iftikhar Ahmed, Khan, Raza Rabbani, Irshad Ahmad Khan, Mahesh Kumar Malani, Faisal Karim Kundi, Sardar Salim Haider, Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi, and Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha are included in the list.   Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif already has 17 special assistants. With the latest appointments, these make the number of aides 25.

In addition to special assistants, the number of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's cabinet has increased to 70.  It includes 34 federal ministers, seven state ministers, four advisors, and 25 special assistants.

All eight new Special Assistants have not been given any portfolio while the new special assistants will not be given the same position as federal ministers or ministers of state, the notification added.