Mushtaq Ali Cheema

**Mushtaq Ali Cheema** is a Pakistani politician and industrialist who served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 2002 to 2007. He was appointed Federal Minister for Textile Industry in September 2004 and held the position until November 2007 during the government of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

He is associated with the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and represented Faisalabad in the National Assembly. Cheema is primarily known for his role in textile-sector policy during a period when the industry accounted for the majority of Pakistan's export earnings.

## Early life and education

Mushtaq Ali Cheema was born in Faisalabad, Punjab, a major industrial and textile center of Pakistan. He obtained a master's degree in commerce and was involved in textile manufacturing and exports prior to entering national politics. He has also been associated with trade and exporters' organizations connected to Pakistan's textile sector.

### Member of the National Assembly (2002–2007)

In the 2002 Pakistani general election, Cheema was elected to the National Assembly from constituency NA-83 (Faisalabad-IX) as a candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), securing 38,278 votes.

He served a full term in the 12th National Assembly (2002–2007).

### Federal Minister for Textile Industry (2004–2007)

Cheema was appointed federal Minister for Textile Industry in September 2004. His appointment was reported by Pakistan's business press as part of a cabinet reshuffle aimed at strengthening industrial and export-oriented sectors.

As minister, he was responsible for policy coordination with textile manufacturers and exporters, addressing energy and financing constraints, and promoting value-added textile exports.

## Policies and statements

During his tenure, Cheema emphasized the strategic importance of the textile sector to Pakistan's economy, describing it as a key contributor to employment and foreign exchange earnings. In 2007, he stated that the government was pursuing measures to stabilize and modernize the industry amid international competition.

## Electoral record

|Election year|Constituency|Party|Result|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|2002|NA-83 (Faisalabad-IX)|Pakistan Muslim League (Q)|Elected|
|2008|NA-83 (Faisalabad-IX)|Pakistan Muslim League (Q)|Defeated|

In the 2008 Pakistani general election, Cheema contested the same constituency but lost amid declining electoral support for the Pakistan Muslim League (Q).

## Later activities

Following the end of his ministerial tenure and electoral defeat in 2008, Cheema did not return to national elective office. He has since remained active in business and local political circles. Subsequent electoral delimitation redesignated his former constituency as NA-103.

## Textile sector

During Cheema's tenure as minister, Pakistan's textile industry accounted for approximately 60 percent of national exports, underscoring its central role in the economy. Later reports indicate that textiles continued to contribute over 60 percent of Pakistan's total exports.

## See also

- National Assembly of Pakistan
- Textile industry
- Pakistan Muslim League (Q)

## Infobox (politician)

- **name**: Mushtaq Ali Cheema
- **office**: Federal Minister for Textile Industry
- **president**: Pervez Musharraf
- **term start**: September 2004
- **term end**: November 2007
- **office1**: Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
- **term start1**: November 2002
- **term end1**: November 2007
- **constituency1**: NA-83 (Faisalabad-IX)
- **nationality**: Pakistani
- **party**: Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
- **education**: Master's degree in Commerce
- **occupation**: Politician, industrialist
- **birth place**: Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan