When Pakistanis search “PM Shehbaz Sharif”, they want the sitting prime minister’s current record — his second term’s policies, cabinet and standing. This is that profile: who he is, how he won the job in 2024, what his government has done since, and where it stands as of October 2026.
Quick answer: Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is Pakistan’s prime minister, elected by the National Assembly on 3 March 2024 with 201 votes. He leads a PML-N–PPP coalition government, secured a $7 billion IMF programme in September 2024, and launched the “Uraan Pakistan” economic plan targeting 6% growth by 2028.
In this guide: Who PM Shehbaz Sharif is · How he won in 2024 · His cabinet · Economic record · Foreign policy · FAQs
Who PM Shehbaz Sharif Is
Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, born 23 September 1951 in Lahore, is the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif and president of the Pakistan Muslim League (N). Before national office he was Punjab’s chief minister three times (1997–99, 2008–13, 2013–18), earning the “Khadim-e-Ala” reputation for visible infrastructure projects. He served as opposition leader after 2018, became prime minister through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, and returned to the office after the 2024 election. Our full Shehbaz Sharif guide covers his whole career in detail.
How He Won the Premiership in 2024
The 8 February 2024 general election — widely criticised by observers and the opposition over alleged rigging — left no party with a majority. The PML-N, though short of a majority, assembled a coalition with the PPP, MQM-P, PML-Q, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and Balochistan Awami Party.
On 3 March 2024, the National Assembly elected Shehbaz prime minister with 201 votes against 92 for the PTI-backed Omar Ayub Khan. Asif Ali Zardari became president under the same power-sharing deal, and the federal cabinet was in place by 11 March 2024. The PTI has contested the mandate ever since, calling the government the product of a “stolen election” — the unresolved dispute that shadows the entire term.
His Cabinet: The Key Faces
The most consequential appointments of the second Shehbaz government:
- Ishaq Dar — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, the government’s senior political operator.
- Muhammad Aurangzeb — Finance Minister, a former HBL president and JPMorgan banker brought in to rebuild creditor confidence.
- Khawaja Asif — Defence Minister, a PML-N veteran.
- Ahsan Iqbal — Planning Minister, driving the Uraan Pakistan development agenda.
See how provincial cabinets work for the parallel structures in the four provinces, and the current chief ministers for the CMs he shares power — and friction — with.
The Economic Record: IMF and Uraan Pakistan
Shehbaz’s second term has been defined by stabilisation economics. Within months of taking office, the government negotiated a bailout and secured a $7 billion IMF programme in September 2024. To meet IMF fiscal targets it raised taxes sharply — including lifting exporters’ tax rates — and announced plans to privatise loss-making state enterprises and renegotiate independent power producer contracts.
The centrepiece is Uraan Pakistan, a five-year plan built on five “Es”: Exports, E-Pakistan, Equity and Empowerment, Environment/Food/Water Security, and Energy and Infrastructure. Its published targets: 6% annual GDP growth by 2028, one million new jobs a year, $60 billion in annual exports by 2028, $10 billion in annual private investment, and a trillion-dollar economy by 2035. Critics note the targets are ambitious against Pakistan’s history of boom-bust cycles; supporters point to stabilised reserves and a calmer rupee as early wins.
Foreign Policy: China, the Gulf and the UN
Abroad, Shehbaz has been an activist prime minister. Pakistan-China cooperation under CPEC remains the stated cornerstone of foreign policy; ties with Gulf states have deepened — including the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement among Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan; and in September 2026 he addressed the 81st UN General Assembly, calling for dialogue over confrontation, raising Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty, and meeting Donald Trump at the UNGA reception banquet — read our report on that meeting. He also undertook a high-profile visit to China earlier in the term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shehbaz Sharif still the Prime Minister of Pakistan?
Yes. As of October 2026, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is Pakistan’s prime minister, serving the second term he began after the March 2024 National Assembly election.
How many votes did Shehbaz Sharif get in 2024?
201 votes in the National Assembly on 3 March 2024, against 92 for Omar Ayub Khan — the PTI-backed candidate.
Who is the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan?
Ishaq Dar, who also holds the foreign affairs portfolio in Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet.
What is Uraan Pakistan?
The government’s five-year economic plan (2024–2029), centred on five “Es” — Exports, E-Pakistan, Equity and Empowerment, Environment/Food/Water Security, Energy and Infrastructure — with targets including 6% GDP growth and $60 billion in exports by 2028.
