Governor Punjab appoints Salma Butt as provincial minister

Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has appointed Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Salma Butt as a provincial minister

LAHORE:  Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has appointed Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Salma Butt as a provincial minister under Article 132 of the Constitution of Pakistan, according to an official notification dated October 21, 2026.

The appointment was made through Order No. SOE/GS(Sum.)1-5/2023-74, a copy of which is available with Minute Mirror. The order confirms Salma Butt’s elevation to the provincial cabinet from her previous position as Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Punjab for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

According to the notification, the governor exercised his constitutional authority under Clause (1) of Article 132 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to appoint Butt as a provincial minister.

The order states that Salma Butt, a Member of the Punjab Assembly elected on a reserved seat for women, has been appointed to the ministerial position. She belongs to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The notification further clarifies that before formally assuming her responsibilities, Butt is required to take an oath before the governor in accordance with Clause (2) of Article 132 of the Constitution.

The oath-taking ceremony will mark the formal commencement of her duties as a member of the provincial cabinet. Further details regarding the ceremony and any specific portfolio assigned to her following the appointment were not included in the notification provided.

Before her elevation, Butt served as Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Food Safety and Consumer Protection. During her tenure, she remained associated with initiatives concerning food safety, consumer rights and price control.

Her responsibilities also included work related to the Ramazan Negahban Package, a provincial relief initiative aimed at supporting deserving families during the holy month of Ramazan. The programme has been among the provincial government’s measures to provide assistance to eligible households facing financial pressure.

Food safety and consumer protection remain important areas of provincial administration, particularly in relation to the quality of food products, market monitoring and safeguarding consumers against unfair practices. Price control is another significant responsibility for the provincial government, especially during periods of increased demand for essential commodities.

Butt’s previous role placed her in an administrative position dealing with these issues. Her appointment as a provincial minister represents a move from the position of special assistant to a formal ministerial role within the Punjab government.

The development also adds to the provincial cabinet’s political and administrative structure, with the appointment being made through the governor’s constitutional authority.

Article 132 of the Constitution outlines the appointment of provincial ministers and the oath required before they assume office. Under the constitutional procedure cited in the notification, the oath must be administered before the governor.

While the appointment order confirms Butt’s elevation, it does not specify whether her existing responsibilities will continue unchanged or whether she will receive a separate ministerial portfolio.

Details regarding her departmental assignment and future responsibilities are therefore awaited. The appointment was formally notified in Lahore on October 21, 2026.