In December 2013, Akhtar was selected by the UN Secretary-General[3] as Under-Secretary-General and the 10th Chief Secretary of the Monetary and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).[3]
Since 17 August 2023, she has been serving as care taker Federal Minister of Finance.
In September 2011, she moved to the United Nations to serve as the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Senior Adviser on Economic Development and Finance to the UN Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon.[2][8]
In December 2013, Akhtar was appointed as the 10th Executive Secretary of UNESCAP in Bangkok.[2]
In 2023, Akhtar was appointed as caretaker finance minister of Pakistan
Wealth
According to Election Commission of Pakistan, prior to assuming her role as caretaker finance minister in 2023, Akhtar declared her net worth to be Rs. 2.94 billion (US$10 million).[10] Among the mentioned assets are Rs. 2.8 billion (US$9.7 million) in Naya Pakistan Certificates, Rs. 109 million (US$380,000) in Pakistani treasury bills, shares of Pakistan State Oil worth Rs. 0.3 million, and residential plots in DHA. Akhtar also has more than Rs. 27 million (US$94,000) deposited in different banks.[11]