Pakistan has just had a close brush with Dar, but it seems that the worst is over. While Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been slow to announce his picks for cabinet, it has become increasingly clear that former finance minister Ishaq Dar will not be asked to head the finance ministry for a record fifth time.

Of course, Mr Dar will not be absent from cabinet entirely. His party has gone so far as to indicate that the position of Deputy Prime Minister (a job nearly as useless but not quite so useless as President) might be revived for the good senator. If not that he might even be given a shot at the finance ministry where he would have the opportunity to do far more damage.

For most close observers of Pakistan’s economy the decision to keep Dar away from it elicited a sense of veritable relief. There is not yet any guarantee as to his replacement. The CEO of Pakistan’s largest bank has been touted as a possible replacement. The name of the caretaker finance minister and former SBP Governor Dr Shamshad Akhtar has also been under consideration.

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