Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif profile

Lahore: The eldest of three siblings of Late Mian Muhammad Sharif, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was born on December 25, 1949 in Lahore. Mr Muhammad Nawaz Sharif got his early education from prestigious schools and earned his graduation from the famous Government College, Lahore. After completion of his academics, he joined the family business and also participated actively in social and charitable activities.

Muhammad Nawaz Sharif started active politics when he joined the Punjab Cabinet as Finance Minister in 1981.He also held the portfolio of Minister for Sports.

In the 1985 general elections, he was elected to both the National and Punjab Provincial Assemblies. On April 9, 1985, he was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Punjab. He also served as caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab. After winning majority in the 1988 Provincial Assembly Elections, he was re-elected as Chief Minister of Punjab.

He was elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan and held the office from November 1, 1990 to July 18, 1993 when President Ghulam Ishaq Khan (late) arbitrarily dissolved the National Assembly. The Supreme Court annulled the former President’s unconstitutional act and reinstated the National Assembly and Nawaz Sharif’s government on May 26, 1993. However, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif resigned from his office on July 18, 1993 to facilitate fresh elections in the country.

He remained leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly from October19, 1993 to 5th November 1996. He was again elected the Prime Minister of Pakistan on February 17, 1997 after his party won an overwhelming majority in the general elections. General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf staged a coup and overthrew his democratically elected popular government on Oct12, 1999.He was sentenced for life and underwent 14 months of imprisonment before being forced into exile by General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf.

During previous tenures of his government, a number of mega development projects were completed including South West Asia’s first 367km motorway, linking Lahore with Islamabad. Efforts were made to strengthen the economy with the help of private sector and projects like Ghazi Barotha, Gwadar Mini port, JF-17 Fighter Jet, international airports in Karachi and Lahore, Optic Fibre Project and opening up of Telecom sector are some of the hallmarks of his economic policies. Land was distributed among landless peasants in Sindh.

Relations with the Central Asian Muslim Republics were strengthened and ECO was given a boost. His most important contribution was success in re-invigorating the economy of the country by pursuing a policy of liberalization, privatization and deregulation despite economic sanctions. He succeeded in repealing the controversial Eighth Amendment unanimously and the adoption of anti-defection Fourteenth Amendment Bill. In an attempt to end the Afghan civil war after the withdrawal of Soviet Forces, he succeeded in convincing Afghan factions to unite and sign “Islamabad Accord” for establishing peace in Afghanistan and the region. Mr. Nawaz Sharif gained in stature when his government conducted nuclear tests on May 28, 1998 in response to India’s nuclear blasts. This raised Pakistan’s prestige globally and its security was made impregnable. In May, 2007, he signed the Charter of Democracy (CoD) with leader of PPP Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and other prominent political leaders in London for strengthening and sustaining democracy in the country. Since 2008, he has played the role of a statesman by committing to uphold democratic values and traditions and work for the welfare of the people of Pakistan. His strict adherence to these ideals paved the way for completion of the constitutional term by the elected Assemblies. Pakistan Muslim League-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif created history in Jun 2013 when he was elected as the 27th Prime Minister for the third time by securing 244 votes in the National Assembly. Mr. Nawaz Sharif is a family man, devoted son and an affectionate father. He is God fearing; and his love for the people is manifest when he reaches out to the poor and the oppressed to redress their grievances in their hour of distress. Mr. Nawaz Sharif and Begum Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif have two sons and two daughters who are all married and well settled in life.