Profiles of Caretaker Cabinet Ministers

ISLAMABAD: A six-member caretaker cabinet took oath of office here Tuesday with a pledge to run the affairs of the government during its two-month interim period till the general election on July 25.

President Mamnoon Hussain administered the oath of office to the new federal ministers. Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retired) Nasir ul Mulk witnessed the ceremony held here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The ministers who took oath of office include Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Muhammad Azam Khan, Dr Shamshad Akhtar, Syed Ali Zafar, Muhammad Yousaf Shaikh and Mrs Roshan Khursheed Bharucha.

The caretaker cabinet ministers have a lot of experience and expertise in their respective fields and were known as reputed personalities at home and abroad.

Following are the profiles of caretaker ministers:-

Profile of Abdullah Hussain Haroon:

Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Caretaker Minister for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Defence Production, born on October 21, 1950, has served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations from September 2008 to December 2012.

A scion of the Haroon family, he is a renowned businessman, social activist and a previous Sindh Assembly speaker who was a board member of several educational institutes, sports associations and charity organizations.

Hussain Haroon is son of Saeed Haroon, elder brother of Hameed Haroon and grandson of Sir Abdullah Haroon, a politician, who Muhammad Ali Jinnah called one of the strongest pillars of the All-India Muslim League.

He belongs to a well-known Kutchhi family hailed from Kutchh. He completed his education from Karachi Grammar School and later at the University of Karachi.

Hussain Haroon started his early career in public service as the election Coordinator for Pakistan Muslim League in the year 1970. Later he was appointed as Councilor, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) (1979–1985).

He has also served as Member Provincial Assembly of Sindh (1985–1988), Trustee Karachi Port Trust (KPT) (1980–1982); Speaker, Provincial Assembly of Sindh (1985–1986); and leader of opposition, Provincial Assembly of Sindh (1986–1988).

Hussain Haroon has also been elected as Consultant, Pakistan Herald Publications Limited (PHPL) (1988–1989); Member to the Board of Governors, delegate to the United Nations General Assembly; Institute of Business Administration, Karachi (1996–1999); Chairman, Griffith College Karachi (1999–2005) and President, Pakistan-China Business Forum (1999–2004).

In 2008, Hussain Haroon was elected as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, replacing veteran Munir Akram.

Profile of Dr. Shamshad Akhtar:

Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Caretaker Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, Statistics, Planning, Development and Reform has a broad based development experience of about 37 years at leading multilateral institutions including the United Nations, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank and has served as Governor of Central Bank of Pakistan.

Her development experience is spread over Asia, and Middle East and North Africa. Areas of her expertise range from macroeconomic policy management to sector specific policies, legal and regulatory frameworks development and implementation.

In addition to macroeconomics including growth policies, public finance and monetary policy and management, she has advised various governments and the private sector in specific areas of public and private sector governance, poverty, privatization, public private partnerships and energy, agriculture and other sectors.

Over the years she also advised a number of countries on financial sector (both banking and nonbank sectors) policy, legal and regulatory frameworks and conducted assessments of central banks.

As Pakistan’s Governor of Central Bank, she was nominated Asia’s Best Central Bank Governor by the Emerging Market Groups in 2006 and Bankers Trust in 2007. She was nominated among top ten of Asia's Women in 2008 by the Asian Wall Street Journal.

EDUCATION

• Post – Doctoral Fellow and U.S Full-bright Scholar at Department of Economics, Harvard University, USA (1986 – 1987);
• PhD Economics: Awarded a Scholarship and degree from the UK Government Council of National Academic Award (1978 -1980) and completed Phd from University of Paisley;
• Masters of Arts: Degree in Development Economics – Awarded UK Government scholarship University of Sussex, UK (completed in December 1977);
• MSc (Economics): The University of Islamabad, Pakistan (completed in August 1975);
• Bachelor of Arts (Economics):  University of Punjab, Islamabad, Pakistan (1972-1974).

WORK EXPERIENCE

** Served as United Nations Executive Secretary and Under Secretary General of the Economic and Social Commission of the Asia and Pacific, based in Bangkok (from 1 February 2014 to 31 May 2018);

** Served as Secretary General’s Senior Special Advisor on Economic and Finance and Assistant Secretary General, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York (July 2012-31 January 2014); and UN Secretary General’s G20 Sherpa since July 2012 to end December 2015.

** Vice President, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), The World Bank 6 July 2009-18 Sept 2011:  Provided strategic and managerial leadership for over 500 Bank staff working in the region, for all MENA countries (Mashreq/Maghreb and GCC, and Libya and Yemen).

** Oversaw lending portfolio of over $7.5 billion for: economic and financial reform, sustainable development through the infrastructure and agriculture sectors, governance, job creation, and private sector participation.

** Led the technical and analytical support agenda as well as knowledge and learning for the entire region, including on financial access, food prices, and renewable energy.

** Led the strategic redirection of the Bank strategy and G8 response to the “Arab Spring.”

** Led policy dialogue with Prime Ministers, Cabinet members and development partners and participated in a number of strategic forums including the World Economic Forum and other international events as speakers.

** Sr. Special Advisor to President of Asian Development Bank (ADB) 3 January 2009 to July 2009:  The Special Senior Advisor plays a leadership role as an individual contributor to Management provides vision and high-level strategic advice as required by Management; supports ADB’s Strategy 2020; and provides integrated, innovative approaches to solving unusually complex and long-term problems impacting ADB’s operations.

Served as Governor, State Bank of Pakistan-SBP (2006 to January 2009)--Federal Minister rank and representing Pakistan as Governor of IMF: Chairperson of the Central Board of Director of the SBP and the Banking Services Corporation (as subsidiary of the central bank) as well as the National Institute of Banking and Finance and the Institute of Banking of Pakistan.

Profile of Barrister Syed Ali Zafar:

Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting and was the President, Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (2015-16).

He is President of Pakistan chapter of SAARC Law.

- He is Senior Partner of his law firm, Mandviwalla & Zafar, which is the largest and leading law firms of Pakistan having its offices in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.

- He is the Chairman of Cultural Association of Pakistan Graduates (CAPG)

- He is Vice President of Human Rights Organization of Pakistan

- He is Advocate Supreme Court and High Courts of Pakistan

- He is Barrister-at-Law having done his Bar from England & Wales in 1984

- He completed his LLB from London School of Economics & Political Science in 1983

- Zafar has appeared in hundreds of important and famous cases due to which his name has been appearing regularly in all the newspapers of Pakistan and he is regularly called on TV for his expert advice.

- He is the Editor-in-Chief of the book “Understanding Statutes”

- He has assisted in and contributed in the drafting of various laws, both at the federal and provincial levels

- He is the member of Punjab Bar Council, Lahore High Court Bar Association, Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan and Pakistan Bar Council.

- He also writes in Express Tribune on various political, social and legal issues.

- He has acted as arbitrator in various international arbitrations under the auspices of various bodies including International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).

- He is a lecturer in various law colleges in Pakistan and abroad and regularly judges legal moot competitions.

Profile of Prof. Muhammad Yusuf Shaikh:

Prof. Muhammad Yusuf Shaikh Caretaker Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training with Additional Portfolios of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has served as General Staff Officer and Instructor at Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul; Principal/Project  Director Public School Sukkur; Principal/ Project Director Public School Gadap Karachi; Principal/Project Director Sindh Madressatul Islam, Karachi; and Principal/PD Public School, Hyderabad.

** Served as Founder Principal/Project Director Cadet College Larkana for 23 years; Chairman Larkana District Historical Society; Member Pakistan Institute of International Affairs Karachi; Member Sindh Madressa Board;

Member Board of Governors Cadet College for Girls Nawabshah; Member Iqbal Academy Award Committee; Life Member Pakistan Arts Council Karachi; Life Member Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers; and Life Member Sindh Red Crescent Society.

Profile of Muhammad Azam Khan

Muhammad Azam Khan Caretaker Minister for Interior, Capital Administration & Development Division Ministry of Narcotics is a former bureaucrat and also remained Minister for Finance, Planning & Development KPK from October 24, 2007 to April 1, 2008.

-  UNDP Advisor to Lachi Poverty Reduction Project (LPRP) from January 1997 to June 6, 2007, National Project Coordinator UNDP, Lachi Poverty Reduction Project. (LPRP).

- Chairman, Pakistan Tobacco Board, Ministry of  Commerce, Government of Pakistan, Peshawar.

- Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.

-Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs.

-  Chief Secretary, Government of KP from September 1990 to July 1993.

-Academic qualifications: LINCOLN’S INN, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM Barrister-at-Law (1962)

-Patron: Muhammad Azam Khan Special Education Centre Charsadda

- Member, Institutional Management Committee.

INTERNATIONAL IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE, (IIMI), PAKISTAN.

-Member, Steering Committee of IIMI in Pakistan. STATE BANK OF PAKISTAN

-Member, High Powered Commission on Rural Finance

-Member, National Statistics Council, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.

-RURAL SUPPORT PROGRAMME NETWORK

-Director, Board of Directors

-MEMBER, SOUTH ASIA SOCIAL MOBILIZATION NETWORK.

-ALLIED BANK OF PAKISTAN DIRECTOR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

-President Senior Alumni Association, Islamia College Peshawar.

-Member Senate, Islamia College, Peshawar (Chartered University).

-Member, Board of Governors, City University, Peshawar

-Chairman Board of Director, Centre of Excellence for Rural Development (CERD)

-Vice President Children’s SOS Villages of Pakistan, Peshawar.

-Director, Imran Khan Foundation (Flood Relief and Rehabilitation)

-Member National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC) Pakistan.

-Chairman, Supreme Court Flood Commission Enquiry.

Profile of Ms. Roshan Khursheed Bharucha:

Ms. Roshan Khursheed Bharucha Caretaker Minister for Human Rights, Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit Baltistan, and States and Frontier Regions got a masters degree in English from the University of Balochistan in 1977.

She also got a degree in Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Executives from PIMS Karachi in 1993.

She has held public office / official positions as Caretaker Minister Balochistan (November 22, 2007 to April19, 2008); and Member Senate of Pakistan (March 12, 2003 to March11, 2006).

Ms. Bharucha has served as Chairperson Senate Standing Committee on Health; Member Senate Standing Committee on Sports, Culture, Tourism and Youth Affairs; Member Senate Standing Committee on Education, Science and Technology; Member Senate Functional Committee on Government Assurance.

She also served as Provincial Minister Balochistan (June 2000) with the portfolios of Social Welfare, Informal Education, Human Rights, Youth, Information, Population, Information Technology, Manpower Training,  Sports, Archives and Culture.

Ms. Bharucha, who has also held honorary positions for international organizations and bodies, has a lot of experience in diverse areas including teaching, women welfare, sports, information technology, special education, culture etc.