Pakistan swears in sixth finance minister in four years amid economic crisis

ISLAMABAD: Ishaq Dar took oath as Pakistan's new finance minister on Wednesday for the fourth time as the country struggled to resurrect its cash-strapped economy, also hit by unprecedented floods.

The 72-year-old senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) who had been in self-exile since 2017 after being accused in a corruption case, took oath as the finance minister a day after he was sworn in as a Senator amid loud protests by former premier Imran Khan's party members who shouted slogans, calling him a "thief" and an "absconder.

President Arif Alvi administered the oath to Dar during a ceremony here which was also attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The move came after former finance minister Miftah Ismail stepped down from his post to make way for the PML-N senator.

Dar was nominated by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz as the finance minister during a meeting held in London on Sunday and returned to take charge of the finance portfolio, which he has previously held on three occasions.

He had been living in London for nearly five years to evade prosecution in a corruption case, which is still pending against him. Dar was elected to the Senate from Punjab but could not take oath as he was not in the country.

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The new finance minister's appointment comes after months of economic uncertainty marked by the devaluation of the rupee and crippling inflation, which will also be a big challenge for Dar.

Recovery after floods that affected more than 33 million people and caused losses of over USD 40 billion would be another tough challenge for him.