Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar appointed caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan

On August 12, Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was chosen to lead the Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister to govern the cash-strapped country and oversee general elections later this year. 

Outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Leader of Opposition Raja Riaz finalised his name after two rounds of deliberations over the matter.

Kakar, a lawmaker belonging to Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), will lead a caretaker government until a new election later this year. Prime Minister Sharif recommended the dissolution of the National Assembly on August 9, three days before the mandated term, therefore, according to the Constitution, the next general elections will be held in 90 days.

The choice of caretaker prime minister has assumed heightened importance this time because the candidate will have extra powers to make policy decisions on economic matters, and amid fears the elections may be delayed by as much as six months.