In a significant political development, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has been appointed as the country’s deputy prime minister, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Sunday.
Dar, 73, brings a wealth of experience to his new role, being a chartered accountant and a veteran politician affiliated with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. The appointment, made by Prime Minister Sharif, is effective immediately and until further orders, as stated in the notification.
Having served as finance minister in two previous governments, Dar is known for his expertise in economic matters and has been regarded as the party’s go-to figure for addressing financial challenges. He most recently held the position of finance minister in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government.
Dar’s path to the deputy prime minister’s role saw twists and turns, as he was initially tipped to become chairman of the Senate, the upper house of Parliament. However, this plan was altered after a strategic agreement between the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. This deal secured the PPP’s support for the coalition government, resulting in the allocation of key positions like the president and chairman senate slots to the PPP.
Despite the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed independents winning a majority in the National Assembly, the PML-N and PPP’s power-sharing agreement allowed them to form the coalition government, with Ishaq Dar assuming the role of deputy prime minister.
Sources By Agencies
