Punjab’s top cop appointed adviser to UN blue helmets

Faisal Shahkar, a top Pakistani police officer, has been appointed as the Police Adviser in the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (DPO), a UN spokesman announced on Monday.

Shahkar succeeds Luis Carrilho of Portugal who recently completed his assignment.

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told the UN regular noon briefing that Shahkar, who was appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, brings to the position more than 30 years of national and international experience.

He currently serves as Inspector General of Police in Punjab. He has also served in several senior positions with the Pakistan Police, including as Additional Inspector of Police in Punjab (2015-2018), as well as Regional Police Chief (2014-15).

IGP Shahkar has more than nine years of experience with the United Nations at Headquarters and the field where he most recently served as Team Leader within the United Nations Standing Police Capacity (2020-2021).

He further served with the Department of Peace Operations’ Police Division, backstopping field operations (2011-2013 and 2005-2008), the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) (2004-2005) and the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) (2000-2002).

Shahkar is a graduate of the University of London, United Kingdom with a master’s degree in law (L.L.M). He also holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Punjab. He is fluent in English and Urdu.

Praising the UN appointment on the microblogging site Twitter, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said this is “another honour for Pakistan in UN Peacekeeping”.