Born in 1950, Mohammad Ishaq Dar has been in the forefront of country's political scene since the late 1980s as a member of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz’s central executive committee.

The incumbent opposition leader in the Senate, Dar is highly regarded for his expertise in finance and economics. He has served as federal minister for commerce and investment in the 1997-99 government of Nawaz Sharif and has twice served as federal minister for finance, economic affairs, revenue and statistics (1998-99 and 2008).

Considered a PML-N stalwart, Dar has been heading the party's international affairs office since 2002.

Apart from being elected an MNA twice (1993-96 and 1997-99), Dar has been elected Senator three times along with being appointed as PML-N’s parliamentary leader in the upper house each time. Dar’s current Senate term expires in March 2018.

Prior to his first assignment as a federal minister, he was appointed minister of state/chief executive of Pakistan Investment Board (PIB) from 1992 to 1993. He also served as president of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In 2008, Dar briefly assumed the duties of federal finance minister but resigned from the position after PML-N decided to part ways with the PPP-led coalition government at the centre.

He is currently a member of the Senate's standing committees on defence and defence production, foreign affairs, Kashmir affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, commerce and finance, revenue, economic affairs, statistics, planning and development and privatisation.

Dar was a member of the key parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms, which made possible the formulation and passage of the 18th, 19th, and 20th amendments.

Recognising his parliamentary services, the PPP-led coalition government conferred upon him Nishan-i-Imtiaz – the highest civil award in Pakistan – in 2011. However, he along with other party colleagues refused to receive it from President Asif Ali Zardari.

Having studied at prestigious educational institutions like Government College University Lahore, Punjab University and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Dar has served in many international financial organisations, including World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank. He was also a financial advisor to a member of the ruling family of the United Arab Emirates.

Dar is also known as a philanthropist and reportedly runs two charitable organisations –Hajveri Trust and Hajveri Foundation. These two trusts work to provide shelter to the homeless, help financially deprived students and arrange mass marriage events for needy couples.

— Research and text by Imran Kazmi