Yousuf Raza Gilani
A slimmer ministerial team will be appointed in its place, according to Yousuf Raza Gilani, the country's prime minister, who received the resignations on Wednesday. However, the plans to reduce the number of cabinet ministers and junior ministers from 60 to 40 have been criticised by analysts as a political stunt rather than real economic reform.
"This move may be good for politics or to make headlines but not really for the economy as the government has to make a more concerted effort in order to build up its credibility," said Asif Qureshi, director at Invisor Securities.
"It's an eye wash. We actually need to see something, as in what and who is being inducted." Pakistan was already struggling with a debt crisis even before its struggling economy was lashed by monsoon rains last year, causing an estimated $10bn of damage.
Foreign aid has been slow in coming, because of concern about the government's ability or inclination to push through financial reform.
