In a significant political move, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has been appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan, as per a notification issued by the Cabinet Division. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made the appointment with immediate effect until further notice, signalling major a strategic shift within the government.
Dar, known for his expertise in finance, had previously served as the Finance Minister under the PML-N government. However, in a surprising turn of events earlier this year, he was appointed as the Foreign Minister in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s revamped cabinet, while the finance portfolio went to Muhammad Aurangzeb.
This latest development marks a return to a prominent role for Dar within the government, as he takes on the responsibilities of Deputy Prime Minister. The position had remained vacant since June 2012 when Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, then of PML-Q, held the position.
Interestingly, Dar’s name had been proposed for the interim Prime Minister position by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in July. However, this proposal faced opposition from the PPP, leading to a different outcome.