In a surprising turn of events, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has been appointed as the deputy prime minister of the country, as per a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Sunday.
“The Prime Minister has graciously designated Mr. Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, as Deputy Prime Minister with immediate effect and until further orders,” stated the notification.
Dar assumed the role of the country’s foreign minister following the formation of a coalition government by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after the February 8 elections.
A seasoned politician and a chartered accountant, Dar, aged 73, holds a significant stature within the PML-N and is known for his close ties to party leader Nawaz Sharif.
The appointment of the four-time finance minister as foreign minister indicated a heightened emphasis on economic matters in the nation’s diplomatic endeavors, especially as Pakistan seeks to secure another International Monetary Fund Deal and bolster external financing from foreign capitals.
“Economic diplomacy is undoubtedly imperative,” Dar remarked to Reuters following his appointment in March.
Prior to Dar’s appointment, Pervaiz Elahi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) had been the only national politician appointed as the country’s deputy prime minister on June 25, 2012, following a political alliance between the then-ruling Pakistan People’s Party and the PML-Q.
Dar’s illustrious career includes previous tenures as finance minister from 1998 to 1999, then from March to May 2008. He later served as finance minister again from 2013 to 2017 and from 2022 to 2023. Additionally, he has held positions as minister for industry and investment from February 1997 to July 1997 and as commerce minister from December 1997 to October 1999. Dar also served as the Leader of Opposition in the Senate from March 2012 to June 2013.