Shehbaz Sharif
Chaired cabinet approval of the Defence Forces Act 2026, making Field Marshal Asim Munir the first Chief of Defence Forces with nuclear command authority, and directed Rs30-32/litre diesel price cuts amid fuel protests over Gulf shipping disruption.
Shehbaz Sharif is midwifing the most sweeping overhaul of Pakistan's military and nuclear command structure in years while simultaneously fighting fuel-price fallout from the US-Iran war's disruption of Gulf shipping.
On August 20, his federal cabinet pushed through the Defence Forces Act 2026 and the National Command Authority Amendment Bill, abolishing the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee post and creating a new Chief of Defence Forces role. Field Marshal Asim Munir becomes the first CDF, gaining operational command over the armed forces and a seat on the nuclear National Command Authority. Sharif appointed General Syed Aamer Raza as the first Commander of National Strategic Command, consolidating military and nuclear authority under Munir as principal military advisor to the prime minister.
A day earlier, Sharif directed Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik to negotiate with Karachi refineries, securing a Rs30-32 per litre cut in locally produced diesel prices. The move came under protest pressure from Jamaat-e-Islami and the All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance over fuel hikes tied to the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
His diplomatic posture remains active. Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide visited Islamabad on August 13-14 and praised Sharif's role facilitating Iran-US talks as "a service to the world." On August 5, Sharif marked the seventh anniversary of India's Article 370 abrogation as Youm-e-Istehsal, calling the constitutional changes a human rights violation, drawing rejection from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and a dismissive Indian MEA response.
Earlier in the cycle, Sharif approved oil refining policy amendments targeting $6 billion in investment for Euro-4/Euro-5 fuel upgrades, hosted Iranian President Pezeshkian for a trade-and-security pact aimed at $10 billion in bilateral commerce, and co-inaugurated Pakistan's largest AI data center with Field Marshal Munir. S&P upgraded Pakistan's sovereign rating to B, the first upgrade in nine years, with reserves at $25.3 billion. His brother Nawaz Sharif is campaigning for the Azad Kashmir premiership and has publicly asked Shehbaz to appoint him if the PML-N wins.
On their plate
Sharif's cabinet passed the Defence Forces Act 2026 and National Command Authority Amendment Bill on August 20, abolishing the Chairman Joint Chiefs post and creating a Chief of Defence Forces role filled by Field Marshal Asim Munir with operational command and a nuclear NCA seat. He appointed General Syed Aamer Raza as first Commander of National Strategic Command.
Sharif directed Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik to negotiate Karachi refinery diesel cuts of Rs30-32/litre under protest pressure, shifted to daily fuel pricing on July 17 with Rs130bn public relief allocated, and approved refining policy amendments targeting $6bn in Euro-4/Euro-5 upgrade investment with Gulf roadshows ordered.
Norway's FM Eide praised Sharif's facilitation of Iran-US talks as a service to the world during his August 13-14 Islamabad visit. Sharif hosted Iranian President Pezeshkian July 20-24, signing a trade-and-security pact targeting $10bn bilateral trade including the ML-3 railway upgrade and a Taftan customs hub.
Sharif marked August 5 as Youm-e-Istehsal on the seventh anniversary of Article 370's abrogation, calling the constitutional changes a human rights violation. J&K CM Omar Abdullah rejected Pakistan's locus standi and India's MEA dismissed the remarks, keeping bilateral ties at a low.
Sharif praised first-phase AJK election results and credited brother Nawaz Sharif's campaign for the PML-N lead. Nawaz has publicly asked Shehbaz to appoint him AJK premier if the party wins the July 27-August 10 polls, with Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif tasked with a regional development package.
Key relationships
Sharif credited Nawaz's campaign for the PML-N's AJK first-phase lead and is positioned to appoint him AJK premier if the party wins the July 27-August 10 elections. Nawaz has publicly asked Shehbaz to make him AJK prime minister.
Sharif elevated Munir to the new Chief of Defence Forces role via the Defence Forces Act 2026, giving him operational command over the armed forces and a seat on the nuclear National Command Authority. They have appeared jointly at the AI data center inauguration and the Balochistan National Workshop.
Sharif hosted the Iranian president July 20-24 and signed a trade-and-security pact targeting $10bn bilateral trade, including the ML-3 railway upgrade and a Taftan customs hub. He reiterated Pakistan's role as an honest mediator in the US-Iran conflict.
Sharif tasked Petroleum Minister Malik with negotiating refinery diesel price cuts of Rs30-32/litre under public-protest pressure from fuel hikes tied to the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Abdullah rejected Sharif's Article 370 anniversary remarks, saying Pakistan has no locus standi and its interference weakens the local Kashmiri case. India's MEA also dismissed the comments.
Norway's FM Eide visited Islamabad August 13-14 and praised Sharif's facilitation of Iran-US talks as a service to the world. Pakistan and Norway agreed to deepen cooperation on trade, climate, maritime affairs, and Strait of Hormuz free passage.
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