Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, born September 23, 1951, is a Pakistani politician and businessman who currently serves as the 20th Prime Minister of Pakistan since March 2024, having previously held the office from April 2022 to August 2023. The younger brother of three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz comes from a prominent political and business family. He earned a reputation as an able administrator as chief minister of Punjab province before becoming prime minister.

Shehbaz graduated from Government College, Lahore with distinction and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. His father, Muhammad Sharif, founded a steel factory which in the 1960s became part of the industrial conglomerate Ittefaq Group. After graduating, Shehbaz joined the family business, and in 1985 he was chosen for a one-year term as president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Career History

• President, Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (1985)
• Chief Minister of Punjab (1997-1999; 2008-2018 across three non-consecutive terms) – the longest-serving person in this role
• Leader of the Opposition, National Assembly (2018-2022)
• President of Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) party (since 2017)
• Prime Minister of Pakistan (April 2022 – August 2023; March 2024–present)

During his tenure as Chief Minister, Shehbaz prioritized development projects, particularly in the transport sector of Lahore, contributing significantly to urban infrastructure improvements. As Prime Minister in 2022-2023, his government secured IMF funding and implemented reforms that helped avert a potential default, while also mobilizing resources for relief following devastating 2022 floods.

What Shehbaz Sharif could bring to his current role as Prime Minister of Pakistan: Drawing on three decades in provincial governance, Shehbaz brings demonstrated expertise in large-scale infrastructure execution, fiscal stabilization, and coalition management. His track record of securing external financing (evidenced by his 2022-2023 IMF negotiations) and ability to navigate complex political coalitions positions him to address Pakistan's persistent economic challenges and infrastructure needs during his current tenure.