Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, as coordinator for religious harmony and the Pakistani diaspora in the Middle East and Muslim countries.

The appointment comes as Pakistan seeks to deepen engagement with the Muslim world amid shifting regional dynamics and the strategic importance of relations with Gulf and other Islamic states, according to a press release issued on Thursday.

Ashrafi has previously served as a special representative and brings extensive experience in religious diplomacy, interfaith dialogue and international outreach.

In his new role, he will focus on strengthening coordination, promoting mutual understanding and improving Pakistan’s relations with Islamic and Arab countries, particularly on issues related to religious harmony and the welfare of the Pakistani diaspora.

Widely recognised for his efforts to promote interfaith and inter-sectarian harmony, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, Ashrafi has played a key role in fostering dialogue among different religious schools of thought within Pakistan.

He is a member of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League and is associated with several leading international and Islamic organisations. He also maintains longstanding ties with prominent Islamic scholars and senior figures across the Arab and Muslim world.

The appointment underscores the government’s stated commitment to promoting religious harmony, strengthening constructive engagement with Muslim countries and ensuring effective representation of Pakistan’s interests and overseas community abroad.