Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Sworn In as Pakistan's Eighth Caretaker PM Amidst Concerns of Delayed Elections and Fragile Economy

Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar took oath as Pakistan's eighth caretaker prime minister on Monday, coinciding with the country's celebration of its 76th independence day. The oath-taking ceremony was held in Islamabad, with President Arif Alvi administering the oath. Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, ex-cabinet members, and the chiefs of the armed forces were also in attendance.

Kakar, an ethnic Pushtun leader who is close to the military, resigned both as a senator and from the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), which he co-founded in 2018. As caretaker PM, he will be responsible for choosing a cabinet to govern the country.

His appointment comes at a crucial time, as the former PM's approval of the results of a digital census on August 5 makes a delay in general elections likely. The caretaker government has been empowered to make important economic decisions, raising concerns about the length of its stay in power.

There has been speculation that the authorities are reluctant to hold elections this year, as political turmoil has engulfed the country since the dismissal of Imran Khan as PM in April 2022.

Kakar's appointment has strained relations between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), as the latter expressed reservations about Kakar's selection and the perceived reliance on establishment support. Kakar's immediate task is to form a cabinet to run the country while ensuring free and fair elections. The fragile economy and ongoing flooding present additional challenges for the caretaker PM.