Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari led the ceremony at his office in Islamabad, said Faisal Raza Abidi.

The most notable name missing from the new Cabinet is Shah Mehmoud Qureshi, the former foreign minister, who led Pakistan on numerous bilateral talks with the US.

The talks involved pressing issues such as the war in Afghanistan and the fight against militants.

Pakistan's information minister, Qamar Zaman Kaira, was also replaced.

Cabinet ministers submitted their resignations to the prime minister earlier this week as part of the government's plan to dissolve and reappoint a smaller Cabinet.

The ruling party announced plans to shrink the Cabinet last week.

Party officials have insisted that the decision was not a move to preempt uprisings similar to those in Egypt and Tunisia.