 Following the election of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as Prime Minister of Pakistan in August 2017, he was inducted into the federal cabinet of Abbasi.He was appointed as the Federal Minister of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan.Upon the dissolution of the National Assembly on the expiration of its term on 31 May 2018, Tahir ceased to hold the office as Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan.