Addressing the premier, 41-year-old Awan said: "While endorsing your leadership, I don`t think I can continue as a member of the cabinet. With your permission, I would like to submit my resignation."
Awan broke down during her speech. She did not spell out the reasons behind her decision to resign. She said the contributions of the coalition partners of the ruling Pakistan People`s Party represented "a way forward for our democratic vision".
Awan told Gilani: "I believe that under your leadership and in the ownership of the President, we have to move forward."
Awan was the third PPP leader to hold the information portfolio since the current government came to power in early 2008. Her predecessors were Sherry Rehman, currently Pakistan`s Ambassador-designate to the US, and Qamar Zaman Kaira.
Known for her aggressive defence of the PPP whenever it faced problems, Awan was inducted as Information Minister during a revamp of the cabinet in February this year.