Khawaja Salman Rafique

Khawaja Salman Rafique
Minister for Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 March 2024
Chief MinisterMaryam Nawaz
In office
28 November 2016 – 31 May 2018
Chief MinisterShahbaz Sharif
Provincial Minister of Health
In office
April 2022 – July 2022
Chief MinisterHamza Shahbaz
Advisor to the Chief Minister for Health
In office
13 November 2013 – 26 November 2016
Chief MinisterShahbaz Sharif
Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Health
In office
8 February 2012 – 20 March 2013
Chief MinisterShahbaz Sharif
Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 2024
ConstituencyPP-153 Lahore-IX
In office
15 August 2018 – 14 January 2023
ConstituencyPP-157 Lahore-XIV
In office
2 September 2013 – 31 May 2018
ConstituencyPP-142 (Lahore-VI)
In office
9 April 2008 – 20 March 2013
ConstituencyPP-142 (Lahore-VI)
Personal details
Born (1965-02-16) 16 February 1965 (age 59)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Political partyPakistan Muslim League (N)
RelationsKhawaja Saad Rafique (brother)
Ghazala Saad Rafique (sister-in-law)
ParentBegum Farhat Rafique (mother)

Khawaja Salman Rafique (Punjabi: خواجا سلمان رفیق) is a Pakistani politician who is currently serving as Minister of Specialized Health in Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's cabinet. He has previously served in Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif's cabinet as Minister for Specialized Health and he also has served as Advisor and Special Assistant for Health. He is a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab since 2024 and was before that from April 2008 to March 2013, from September 2013 to May 2018 and from August 2018 to January 2023. He also served as Minister in Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz's Cabinet. He was one of the main key figures in handling dengue in 2010.

Early life and family

He was born on 16 February 1965.[1]

He earned his BE degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore in 1990.[2]

He is the younger brother of Khawaja Saad Rafique.[3] His father Khawaja Muhammad Rafique was a politician, a Pakistan Movement activist and later an opposition leader to PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He was murdered in 1972 and the family blamed Bhutto. His mother Begum Farhat Rafique was also elected member of Provincial Assembly of Punjab in 1985.

Political career

He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) from Constituency PP-142 (Lahore-VI) in 2008 Pakistani general election.[4] He served as Special Assistant to Chief Minister of Punjab on Health.[1]

He was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency PP-142 (Lahore-VI) in by-elections held in August 2013.[5][6] In November 2013, he briefly served as Special Assistant to Chief Minister of Punjab on Health.[1] In November 2016, he was inducted into the provincial cabinet of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and was made Provincial Minister of Punjab for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education.[7]

He was re-elected to Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency PP-157 (Lahore-XIV) in 2018 Pakistani general election.[8]

He was officially elected from the Punjab Assembly seat PP-153 Lahore-IX in the 2024 Punjab provincial election as a PML-N candidate. Following this he was chosen as Provincial Minister of Punjab for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education for the second time, this time in the Maryam ministry. He was also handed the additional portfolio of the Punjab Emergency Services.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Punjab Assembly". www.pap.gov.pk. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Provincial Assembly Profile". Government of Punjab, Pakistan. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Khawaja Saad Rafique". DAWN.COM. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Punjab Assembly". www.pap.gov.pk. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  5. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (23 August 2013). "PML-N wins five NA, 10 PA seats in Punjab". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  6. ^ "ECP announces by-election results". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Punjab govt hands over portfolios to newly appointed cabinet ministers". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Pakistan election 2018 results: National and provincial assemblies". Samaa TV. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  9. ^ "Punjab Assembly | About Assembly - Cabinet and Functionaries". 7 March 2024. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.