Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has assigned the additional portfolio of International Cooperation to her adviser Ali Dar, expanding his official duties to focus on attracting foreign investment and strengthening international partnerships, Geo News reported. According to an official announcement cited by Geo News, Mr Dar's revised designation is now Adviser to the Chief Minister on Artificial Intelligence, International Cooperation and Special Initiatives, with a formal notification already issued.

Key Facts

  • Geo News reported that the Punjab government has established the Office of International Coordination and Cooperation (OICAC) on Maryam Nawaz's instructions, with Mr Dar appointed to lead the new body.
  • The Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) has been linked with OICAC to coordinate international investment initiatives, trade opportunities, and partnerships with foreign institutions, according to Geo News.
  • Mr Dar stated in an interview reported by Geo News that the new office will facilitate foreign investment, generate business activity, and improve coordination between government departments.

Background

According to Geo News, Mr Dar was originally appointed Adviser to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Artificial Intelligence and Special Initiatives on February 9, 2026, holding the status and powers of a provincial minister to promote innovation, technology adoption, job creation, and AI-driven improvements in governance.

Geo News noted that Mr Dar is the eldest son of Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and is married to Asma Nawaz Sharif, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and younger sister of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He studied at Aitchison College in Lahore before moving to Britain in 2000 for higher education at University College London and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, where he obtained a degree in software engineering. Before entering the Punjab government, he founded the UAE-based HDS Group of Companies, serving as its chief executive until 2024.

Why it matters

According to the details reported by Geo News, the creation of OICAC and the linkage of PBIT under a unified framework are intended to create a more coordinated approach for engaging international investors and translating foreign partnerships into practical economic projects across Punjab.