Islamabad, March 8, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has brought back his long-time confidant, Dr Tauqir Shah, as an adviser in the Prime Minister’s Office, assigning him the status of a federal minister.
Dr Tauqir, who was serving as Executive Director at the World Bank, resigned from his prestigious international role at Shehbaz Sharif’s request. An English daily said in report on Saturday that Dr. Tauqir’s return is aimed at enhancing the efficiency and performance of the PM’s Office.
Known as “Dr T” within the Prime Minister’s inner circle, Dr Tauqir has been a key figure in Shehbaz Sharif’s administrative team for nearly three decades. A career bureaucrat from the Pakistan Administrative Service (formerly DMG), he first joined Shehbaz’s team in 1997 as Deputy Secretary when the latter was Chief Minister of Punjab. Over the years, he held pivotal positions, including Principal Secretary to CM Punjab and later Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Throughout his career, Dr Tauqir’s professionalism and integrity have been widely acknowledged. Despite facing scrutiny during General Pervez Musharraf’s rule and NAB inquiries under Chairman Javed Iqbal, no wrongdoing was ever found against him. Notably, he declined a government plot—a privilege often availed by senior bureaucrats.
Following the PDM government’s tenure, he continued as Principal Secretary to caretaker PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar before moving to the World Bank. His departure was marked by rare praise from the caretaker cabinet, with PM Kakar describing him as “one of the most honest, hardworking, and balanced officers” in government service.
Sources indicate that PM Shehbaz was dissatisfied with the daily management of his office, particularly in handling coalition partners and parliamentary affairs. Dr Tauqir, known for his balanced approach and fearless advice, is expected to bring stability and coordination to the PM’s Office.
A bureaucrat familiar with his work stated, “Politicians respect Dr Tauqir for his patience, deep understanding of political culture, and respectful conduct, while civil servants find him accessible, trustworthy, and always willing to support them.”
Shehbaz Sharif has long credited Dr Tauqir’s expertise in implementation and crisis management as a factor in his administrative successes. His independence in decision-making was evident in a 2022 audio leak, where he advised PM Shehbaz against an alleged favor sought by Maryam Nawaz for her son-in-law.
Despite his influence, Dr Tauqir is known for staying out of the limelight. A senior bureaucrat remarked, “He is always present but rarely visible—liked, not feared.”
During his World Bank tenure, Pakistan secured a record-high $40 billion commitment under the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for the next decade. Previously, he served in senior roles at UN agencies like the UNDP, ILO, and International Trade Centre and was Pakistan’s ambassador to the WTO (2015-2018), where he played a key role in international trade negotiations.
Despite his impeccable record, Dr Tauqir was sidelined during PM Imran Khan’s tenure, serving as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and being overlooked for promotion to Grade-22.
Hailing from a prominent landowning family in Sangjani, Islamabad, Dr Tauqir commands deep respect within the civil service for his humility and problem-solving approach. His return to the PM’s inner circle reflects Shehbaz Sharif’s reliance on experienced and trustworthy aides to navigate governance challenges.
