In an unexpected move, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday issued directives against printing his photographs in any governmental media campaign or advertisements.

According to the notification, a copy of which is available with DawnNews, the premier has directed all ministries, divisions, federal governmental organisations, corporations, companies, departments and bodies that his picture should not be printed anywhere on publicity campaigns.

The Supreme Court had already barred government officials from airing or printing publicity campaigns for 'rulers' on government expenses.

The move by the newly-elected prime minister is being considered in total contrast to the policies of his predecessor Nawaz Sharif, who reportedly spent massive amounts on his publicity campaigns.

Abbasi is an electrical engineer with a master's degree from George Washington University. He had served as the minister of petroleum and natural resources in Nawaz Sharif’s third term, which ended on July 28, 2017, after the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified Nawaz as Pakistan’s prime minister.

Abbasi has remained mostly unbeaten in his political career, having only lost to PPP candidate Ghulam Murtaza Satti in 2002. However, aside from that particular contest, he has won every election he has contested in from 1988 till 2013.