Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari

Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari is a Pakistani politician who currently serves as the Federal Minister of Energy. He holds this position within the cabinet led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Since 29 February 2024, he has been a member of the National Assembly. His political trajectory spans several decades of service in both provincial and federal roles.

Early life and education

Awais Leghari was born on 22 March 1971 in Lahore, Pakistan. Some reports from PILDAT suggest his birth date was 1 August 1971. He is the son of Farooq Leghari, who served as the President of Pakistan. As a member of the Leghari tribe, he hails from a feudal political family based in Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab.

His academic journey began at Aitchison College in Lahore, Punjab. He successfully passed the Higher Senior Cambridge Examination in 1988. For his higher studies, he traveled to the United States to attend the University of Rochester in New York State. He graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. His majors during this period included Economics (Game Theory) and Political Science.

Career

Leghari entered the political electoral arena in 1997. He contested the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab election that year as an independent candidate. He won the seat for Constituency PP-204 from Rajanpur on a PPP ticket. On 14 August 1998, he became a member of the Millat Party following its founding.

The 2002 Pakistani general elections marked a significant step in his career. He was elected to the National Assembly from NA-173 (D.G.Khan-III) on a National Alliance (Pakistan) ticket. During this term, he served as the Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications. He later ran for the same seat in 2008 under the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) banner but was unsuccessful.

In March 2011, Leghari won a by-election for the NA-172 (D.G.Khan-II) seat. This vacancy occurred after the death of his father, Farooq Leghari. He secured another National Assembly seat as an independent candidate in the 2013 general elections. By May 2013, he joined the Pakistan Muslim League (N).

Leghari's federal experience expanded significantly under Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. He was sworn in as a Federal Minister without portfolio on 4 August 2017. Although offered the Ministry of Science and Technology, he reportedly refused the role. He instead requested the privatization portfolio—and was eventually appointed Federal Minister for Power in October 2017. He held this position until the National Assembly dissolved on 31 May 2018.

Following his federal term, he returned to provincial politics. He was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 14 October 2018 representing PP-292. In the 2024 general elections, he contested from NA-186 Dera Ghazi Khan-III as a PML(N) candidate. He won the seat with 100,252 votes, defeating Sajjad Hussain. He has since served in various capacities, including Federal Minister for Railway before his transition to the Energy Ministry.

Personal life

Leghari is involved in agriculture, which serves as both a hobby and a source of income. He also enjoys fishing and playing tennis. His family roots remain deeply connected to the socio-economic development of his home region.