Timeline
Born on 23 September in Lahore, West Punjab.
Elected to the Punjab Assembly.
Elected Chief Minister of Punjab for the first time.
Removed from Chief Minister post in a coup and went into exile.
Returned to Pakistan from exile.
Appointed Chief Minister of Punjab for a second term.
Selected as Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Became Prime Minister of Pakistan for a second term.
Biography
Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, born 23 September 1951, is a Pakistani politician and businessman. He has served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan since 2024, having previously held the role from 2022 to 2023. Sharif is also the president of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML(N)). He served three terms as Chief Minister of Punjab, spanning over 12 years, making him the longest-serving person in that role. His political career began with election to the Punjab Assembly in 1988 and the National Assembly in 1990. Following the 1999 coup, he went into exile in Saudi Arabia, returning in 2007. He became Prime Minister in 2022 after a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan and again in 2024 with a coalition government. His career has faced several controversies, including allegations related to the 1993 Janjua incident, the 2014 Model Town incident, and money-laundering.
Early Life & Background
Shehbaz Sharif was born on 23 September 1951 in Lahore, West Punjab. His family is Punjabi with Kashmiri ancestry. His father, Mian Muhammad Sharif, was an upper-middle-class businessman and industrialist whose family had migrated from Anantnag, Kashmir, and settled in Amritsar district. His mother's family came from Pulwama. After the 1947 partition, his parents moved from Amritsar to Lahore. He has two brothers, Abbas Sharif and Nawaz Sharif, the latter being a three-time former Prime Minister. His sister-in-law, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, was First Lady, and his niece, Maryam Nawaz, is the current Chief Minister of Punjab. After graduation, he joined his family's Ittefaq Group and was elected president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry in 1985.
Education
Shehbaz Sharif attended St. Anthony High School in Lahore. He later received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Government College University, also in Lahore. After completing his university education, he joined his family-owned business, the Ittefaq Group.
Political & Professional Career
Shehbaz Sharif began his political career in 1988, elected to the Punjab Assembly. He was subsequently elected to the National Assembly in 1990. In 1993, he was re-elected to the Punjab Assembly and appointed Leader of the Opposition. He first became Chief Minister of Punjab on 20 February 1997, serving until the 1999 coup d'état, which led to his ten-year exile in Saudi Arabia. During exile, he was elected President of the PML(N) in 2002 and re-elected in 2006, returning to Pakistan in 2007. He was appointed Chief Minister of Punjab for a second term in 2008 and a third term in 2013. Following his brother Nawaz Sharif's disqualification, Shehbaz was nominated as PML(N) president. He served as Leader of the Opposition after the 2018 general election. In 2022, he was selected as Prime Minister after a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan. He assumed the role of Prime Minister again in 2024, leading a coalition government.
Key Achievements & Legacy
Longest-serving Chief Minister of Punjab, holding the role three times for over 12 years., Focused on healthcare, education, agriculture, and industrial promotion during his first tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab., Undertook several development projects in Lahore., Launched a crackdown on criminals across Punjab to maintain law and order., Introduced a series of educational reforms, including reformed exams and self-finance schemes for students.