Shahid Ashraf Tarar, a veteran bureaucrat who started his career as an assistant commissioner decades ago in Islamabad, after a long journey, finally took oath as the caretaker federal minister in the same city on Friday.
President Dr. Arif Alvi administered the oath to the 18-member supervisory cabinet. A setup called for the next general election to be held within ninety days as per the constitution. However, uncertainty remains in this regard.
Shahid Ashraf Tarar, a retired Federal Secretary, has joined the 13th Common in the Civil Service after retiring as a captain from the Pakistan Army.
پھالیہ کے حسام ظفر نے وزیراعظم سے اعزازی شمشیر حاصل کی
He is the son of Muhammad Ashraf Tarar, who was the first cousin of former President of Pakistan Muhammad Rafiq Tarar. He belonged to Sahanpal, Tehsil Phalia, District Mandi Bahauddin but his family was shifted to Pirkot, Gakhar Mandi, District Gujranwala.
In the early days of his service, he was posted in Islamabad District Administration, Capital Development Authority, Deputy Commissioner Khushab, DG National Vocational and Training Commission (NAVVTC), Secretary Excise and Taxation Punjab.
At the time of his joining as caretaker minister, he was appointed to the post of Chairman Federal Public Service Commission by the Shahbaz Sharif-led government.
Tarar, who qualifies as the right man for the right job, has been allotted three portfolios of communications, railways and aviation. But his main expertise is in road infrastructure as he served as a powerful head of the National Highway Authority in the Nawaz Sharif-led government after the 2013 general elections.
It is to his credit that he oversaw the speedy and timely completion of projects worth billions as the head of NHA at that time and about Rs 1400 billion was spent on the construction of national highways and motorways.
People close to him know that he is straightforward, intelligent, hard-working and work-oriented and has the courage to say no but the art of balancing ground realities.
