Ishaq Dar

Muhammad Ishaq Dar is a Pakistani politician and chartered accountant who has served as Finance Minister of Pakistan four times, making him the most influential economic figure in the PML-N. Born on 13 May 1950 in Lahore, he trained as a chartered accountant in the United Kingdom before returning to Pakistan to build a business and political career.

Political career

Dar was first elected to the National Assembly in 1990 and became Finance Minister in 1997 under Nawaz Sharif, steering the economy through the post-nuclear-test sanctions period. He returned as Finance Minister from 2013 to 2017, a period of macroeconomic stability that saw the country exit the IMF programme, stock market records and the launch of major infrastructure spending. He was also elected to the Senate in 2015.

Following the PML-N's return to government in 2024, Dar was appointed Finance Minister once again under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and he has since been a central figure in the country's IMF negotiations and economic stabilisation efforts. He was named Deputy Prime Minister in 2024 before stepping down from the finance portfolio.

Legacy

Ishaq Dar is regarded as the architect of the PML-N's economic policy, known for his orthodox fiscal approach and his role in Pakistan's recurring engagements with the IMF. His influence extends well beyond his portfolios, and he remains one of the most powerful figures in the federal government.