Governor of Punjab, Pakistan
The Governor of Punjab is the official head of the provincial government in Punjab, Pakistan. Despite being the titular leader of the province, the role is primarily ceremonial, with real authority resting with the Chief Minister of Punjab and the Chief Secretary of Punjab.
Historically, the powers of provincial governors in Pakistan were significantly expanded during periods when provincial assemblies were dissolved, placing administrative control directly under the governors. This was notably the case during the martial law periods from 1958 to 1972 and 1977 to 1985, as well as during the governor rule from 1999 to 2002. In Punjab specifically, direct governor rule was also implemented from 1949 to 1951, following the dismissal of the provincial Chief Minister and the dissolution of the assemblies.
list of all Governors of Punjab, Pakistan
Here is a detailed list of all Governors of Punjab, Pakistan, including their tenure and notable contributions or events during their time in office:
West Punjab
| Sir Francis Mudie | |
| Assumed Office: 15 August 1947 Left Office: 2 August 1949 Tenure: 1 year, 352 days Party: Independent Notable: First Governor of Punjab after the independence of Pakistan. Played a key role in the initial administration and setup of the newly formed province. |  |
| Abdur Rab Nishtar | |
| Assumed Office: 2 August 1949 Left Office: 24 November 1951 Tenure: 4 years, 114 days Party: Muslim League Notable: Known for his efforts in promoting social and economic development in Punjab. He was a prominent leader in the Pakistan Movement and worked towards the welfare of the people. |  |
| I. I. Chundrigar | |
| Assumed Office: 24 November 1951 Left Office: May 1953 Tenure: 1 year, 182 days Party: Muslim League Notable: Later became the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He was known for his legal and political acumen. |  |
| Mian Aminuddin | |
| Assumed Office: 2 May 1953 Left Office: 24 June 1954 Tenure: 1 year, 53 days Party: Independent Notable: His tenure was marked by efforts to stabilize the province politically and administratively during a turbulent period. |  |
| Habib Rahimtoola | |
| Assumed Office: 24 June 1954 Left Office: 26 November 1954 Tenure: 155 days Party: Independent Notable: A brief tenure focused on maintaining order and continuity in governance. |  |
| Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani | |
| Assumed Office: 26 November 1954 Left Office: 14 October 1955 Tenure: 322 days Party: Muslim League Notable: Played a significant role in the administrative restructuring of Punjab. Later became the Governor of West Pakistan and was known for his contributions to the development of the region. |  |
Governors of West Pakistan
| Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani | |
| Assumed Office: 14 October 1955 Left Office: 27 August 1957 Tenure: 1 year, 317 days Party: Muslim League Notable: Focused on the development of infrastructure and governance. Also served as the first Governor of West Pakistan. |  |
| Akhter Husain | |
| Assumed Office: September 1957 Left Office: 12 April 1960 Tenure: 2 years, 7 months Party: Independent Notable: His tenure saw efforts in administrative reforms and the promotion of educational initiatives. |  |
| Amir Mohammad Khan | |
| Assumed Office: 12 April 1960 Left Office: 18 September 1966 Tenure: 6 years, 159 days Party: Muslim League Notable: Known for his strict administrative style and efforts to maintain law and order. He was influential in local governance and development. |  |
| General (retired) Muhammad Musa | |
| Assumed Office: 18 September 1966 Left Office: 20 March 1969 Tenure: 2 years, 183 days Party: Independent Notable: Focused on maintaining stability and security during his tenure. He had a distinguished military career prior to his appointment. |  |
| Yusuf Haroon | |
| Assumed Office: 20 March 1969 Left Office: 25 March 1969 Tenure: 5 days Party: Civilian Government Notable: Had a very brief tenure. He was involved in various political and social activities. |  |
| Lieutenant-General Attiqur Rahman (first term) | |
| Assumed Office: 25 March 1969 Left Office: 29 August 1969 Tenure: 157 days Party: Military Government Notable: Served during a period of martial law, focusing on security and administration. |  |
| Lieutenant-General Tikka Khan | |
| Assumed Office: 29 August 1969 Left Office: 1 September 1969 Tenure: 3 days Party: Military Government Notable: Brief tenure, known for his military background. |  |
| Air Marshal Nur Khan | |
| Assumed Office: 1 September 1969 Left Office: 1 February 1970 Tenure: 153 days Party: Military Government Notable: Renowned for his contributions to the Pakistan Air Force and later administrative roles. |  |
| Lieutenant-General Attiqur Rahman (second term) | |
| Assumed Office: 1 February 1970 Left Office: 1 July 1970 Tenure: 150 days Party: Military Government Notable: Returned to the governorship for a second term, continuing his focus on security and administration. |  |
Punjab Province
| Attiqur Rahman | |
| Assumed Office: 1 July 1970 Left Office: 23 December 1971 Tenure: 540 Days (1 year, 5 months, 3 days) Party: Independent Notable: Served during a tumultuous period in Pakistan’s history, leading up to the 1971 Indo-Pak war. His tenure saw the political upheaval and internal unrest that culminated in the separation of East Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh. |  |
| Ghulam Mustafa Khar | |
| Assumed Office: 23 December 1971 Left Office: 12 November 1973 Tenure: 690 days (1 year, 10 months, 20 days) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: A close associate of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he played a significant role in the politics of Punjab. Known for his fiery oratory and strong political influence in the region. |  |
| Sadiq Hussain Qureshi | |
| Assumed Office: 12 November 1973 Left Office: 14 March 1975 Tenure: 487 days (1 year, 4 months, 2 days) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: His tenure focused on consolidating the Pakistan Peoples Party’s control in Punjab. Worked on stabilizing the provincial administration and implementing development projects. |  |
| Ghulam Mustafa Khar | |
| Assumed Office: 14 March 1975 Left Office: 31 July 1975 Tenure: 139 days (4 months, 17 days) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: His second term was marked by increased political instability. Faced challenges from political opponents and within his own party. |  |
| Mohammad Abbas Abbasi | |
| Assumed Office: 31 July 1975 Left Office: 5 July 1977 Tenure: 705 days (1 year, 11 months, 5 days) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Oversaw governance during the end of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s regime. Witnessed the transition from democratic rule to military rule under General Zia-ul-Haq. |  |
| Aslam Riaz Hussain | |
| Assumed Office: 5 July 1977 Left Office: 18 September 1978 Tenure: 440 days (1 year, 2 months, 13 days) Party: Independent Notable: Served during the early phase of General Zia-ul-Haq’s military regime. His tenure saw the consolidation of military control over the provincial administration. |  |
| Sawar Khan | |
| Assumed Office: 18 September 1978 Left Office: 1 May 1980 Tenure: 591 days (1 year, 7 months, 13 days) Party: Independent Notable: Continued to govern during General Zia-ul-Haq’s martial law period. His tenure was characterized by efforts to stabilize the political situation in Punjab under military rule. |  |
| Ghulam Jilani Khan | |
| Assumed Office: 1 May 1980 Left Office: 30 December 1985 Tenure: 2069 days (5 years, 7 months, 29 days) Party: Independent Notable: The longest-serving governor of Punjab, his tenure saw significant developments in infrastructure and education. |  |
| Sajjad Hussain Qureshi | |
| Assumed Office: 30 December 1985 Left Office: 9 December 1988 Tenure: 1075 days (2 years, 11 months, 9 days) Party: Independent Notable: His tenure included efforts to restore democratic governance and stabilize the province post-Zia era. |  |
| Tikka Khan | |
| Assumed Office: 9 December 1988 Left Office: 6 August 1990 Tenure: 605 days (1 year, 7 months, 28 days) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Known as “Butcher of Bengal” for his role in the 1971 Bangladesh conflict, his tenure as governor was marked by political stability efforts. |  |
| Mian Muhammad Azhar | |
| Assumed Office: 6 August 1990 Left Office: 25 April 1993 Tenure: 993 days (2 years, 8 months, 19 days) Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Played a key role in the politics of Punjab during Nawaz Sharif’s government. Instrumental in the formation of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) after the 1999 military coup. |  |
| Chaudhary Altaf Hussain | |
| Assumed Office: 25 April 1993 Left Office: 19 July 1993 Tenure: 85 days (2 months, 24 days) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Served briefly during a politically unstable period. Later became involved in the formation of Pakistan Muslim League (Q). |  |
| Iqbal Khan | |
| Assumed Office: 19 July 1993 Left Office: 26 March 1994 Tenure: 250 days (8 months, 7 days) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: His short tenure was part of the interim government during political transitions. Focused on overseeing fair and transparent elections. |  |
| Chaudhary Altaf Hussain | |
| Assumed Office: 26 March 1994 Left Office: 22 May 1995 Tenure: 422 days (1 year, 1 month, 26 days) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Served as part of the interim setup leading to the 1997 general elections. His administration worked towards ensuring a smooth electoral process. |  |
| Raja Saroop Khan | |
| Assumed Office: 19 June 1995 Left Office: 6 November 1996 Tenure: 506 days (1 year, 4 months, 18 days) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Focused on efforts to stabilize the political environment in Punjab. Implemented various development projects aimed at improving infrastructure and public services. |  |
| Khawaja Tariq Rahim | |
| Assumed Office: 11 November 1996 Left Office: 11 March 1997 Tenure: 120 days 4 months Party: Independent Notable: Served during a brief caretaker government period. Worked towards ensuring a fair and impartial administration during the transition. |  |
| Shahid Hamid | |
| Assumed Office: 11 March 1997 Left Office: 18 August 1999 Tenure: 890 days (2 years, 5 months, 7 days) Party: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Notable: Known for his legal background and expertise. Involved in significant administrative reforms and modernization efforts. Focused on improving governance and public administration. |  |
| Zulfiqar Ali Khosa | |
| Assumed Office: 12 August 1999 Left Office: 25 October 1999 Tenure: 73 days Party: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Notable: His short tenure was marked by political instability leading to the 1999 military coup. |  |
| Muhammad Safdar | |
| Assumed Office: 25 October 1999 Left Office: 29 October 2001 Tenure: 796 days (2 years, 2 months, 4 days) Party: Independent Notable: Served during the initial phase of General Pervez Musharraf’s military rule. His tenure was marked by efforts to stabilize the province under military administration. |  |
| Khalid Maqbool | |
| Assumed Office: 29 October 2001 Left Office: 16 May 2008 Tenure: 2391 days (6 years, 6 months, 17 days) Party: Independent Notable: Oversaw significant administrative reforms and development projects. |  |
| Salmaan Taseer | |
| Assumed Office: 17 May 2008 Left Office: 4 January 2011 Tenure: 962 days (2 years, 7 months, 18 days) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Assassinated in office due to his outspoken views on blasphemy laws and minority rights. His tenure was marked by his advocacy for liberal policies and human rights. |  |
| Latif Khosa | |
| Assumed Office: 13 January 2011 Left Office: 2 January 2013 Tenure: 720 days (1 year, 11 months, 20 days) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: His tenure was marked by efforts to stabilize governance post-Taseer’s assassination. |  |
| Syed Ahmed Mahmud | |
| Assumed Office: 3 January 2013 Left Office: 13 May 2013 Tenure: 131 days (4 months, 11 days) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: His brief tenure was part of the interim setup for general elections. Worked towards ensuring a smooth and fair electoral process. |  |
| Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar | |
| Assumed Office: 2 August 2013 Left Office: 29 January 2015 Tenure: 545 days (1 year, 5 months, 27 days) Party: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Notable: Known for his previous role as a British MP. Focused on health and education reforms in Punjab. Advocated for improvements in public service delivery and governance. |  |
| Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana | |
| Assumed Office: 7 May 2015 Left Office: 18 August 2018 Tenure: 1199 days (3 years, 3 months, 11 days) Party: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Notable: His tenure saw efforts to improve governance and public service delivery in Punjab. Focused on infrastructure development and socio-economic upliftment. |  |
| Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar | |
| Assumed Office: 5 September 2018 Left Office: 3 April 2022 Tenure: 1306 days (3 years, 6 months, 29 days) Party: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Notable: Known for his efforts in improving public services and governance. |  |
| Omar Sarfraz Cheema | |
| Assumed Office: 3 April 2022 Left Office: 10 May 2022 Tenure: 57 days (1 month, 27 days) Party: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Notable: His short tenure was marked by political controversy. Resulted from internal party dynamics and political maneuvering. |  |
| Baligh Ur Rehman | |
| Assumed Office: 30 May 2022 Left Office: 10 May 2024 Tenure: 710 days (1 year, 11 months, 10 days) Party: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Notable: Focused on improving the education sector and public service delivery. |  |
| Sardar Saleem Haider Khan | |
| Assumed Office: 10 May 2024 Left Office: Incumbent Tenure: Party: Pakistan People’s Party Notable: Incumbent governor from Pakistan People’s Party. Focusing on ongoing development and political stability in Punjab. |  |
The role of the Governor of Punjab has evolved significantly over the years. From being a position with considerable administrative power during periods of political instability and martial law, it has transformed into a largely ceremonial role today. Nonetheless, the Governors of Punjab have played crucial roles in the province’s governance, development, and political landscape. The current Governor continues to uphold the responsibilities of the office, ensuring that the provincial administration aligns with constitutional and federal mandates.