Hussain Haroon
Encyclopedia
Abdullah Hussain Haroon (born 21 October, 1950) is the current Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations
since September 2008. A scion of the Haroon family, he is a businessman, social activist and a former Sindh Assembly speaker who was a board member of various educational institutes, sports associations and charity organizations.
and grandson of Sir Abdullah Haroon whom Quaid-e-Azam called one of the strongest pillars of the Muslim League. He belongs to well-known Kachi family hailed from Kach, settled in Karachi many years prior to partition of sub-continent. He completed his education from Karachi Grammar School
and the University of Karachi
.
in 1970. Later he served as Councilor, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) (1979-1985); Trustee Karachi Port Trust
(KPT) (1980-1982); Member Provincial Assembly of Sindh
(1985-1988), Speaker, Provincial Assembly of Sindh (1985-1986); and leader of opposition, Provincial Assembly of Sindh (1986-1988).
Hussain Haroon has also served as Consultant, Pakistan Herald Publication Limited (PHPL) (1988-1989); delegate to the United Nations General Assembly
; Member to the Board of Governors, Institute of Business Administration, Karachi
(1996-1999); Director Board of Directors Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) (1997-1999); Chairman, Griffith College Karachi (1999-2005) and President, Pakistan-China Business Forum (1999-2004). He is the president of English Speaking Union of Pakistan and also has the distinction of being the youngest president of the elite Sind Club.
and proposed that it be named after late Benazir Bhutto
. His suggestion was that up to six million people from the interior Sindh
be settled there. He was also part of the protest against real estate development in Bundal Island
by UAE-based Emaar Properties
. Haroon is also known to have ably advocated the Sindh case against the Kalabagh Dam
.
, replacing veteran Munir Akram
. The appointment was controversial because Haroon had no prior experience in the Pakistan Foreign Service or international diplomacy. He took over the post on 3 September, 2008.
Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations
Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations or officially the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations is the diplomatic head representing Pakistan on all platforms of the United Nations in New York City...
since September 2008. A scion of the Haroon family, he is a businessman, social activist and a former Sindh Assembly speaker who was a board member of various educational institutes, sports associations and charity organizations.
Family and education
Hussain Haroon is the elder brother of Hameed HaroonHameed Haroon
-Introduction:Hameed Haroon is Chief Executive Officer of Dawn Media Group , Pakistan’s leading media conglomerate. The Group comprises Pakistan Herald Publications Limited, the printers and publishers of the Dawn newspaper and three leading magazines, the Herald Spider and Aurora ;...
and grandson of Sir Abdullah Haroon whom Quaid-e-Azam called one of the strongest pillars of the Muslim League. He belongs to well-known Kachi family hailed from Kach, settled in Karachi many years prior to partition of sub-continent. He completed his education from Karachi Grammar School
Karachi Grammar School
Karachi Grammar School is an independent, highly selective, coeducational, English-medium school in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.Established in 1847 by the Reverend Henry Brereton, the first chaplain of Karachi, as a school for "English and Anglo-Indo children", it is the oldest private school in...
and the University of Karachi
University of Karachi
The University of Karachi is a public university located in Karachi, Pakistan. It serves an on-campus student population of more than 24,000. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, it is ranked among the top three universities of the country...
.
Career
Haroon began his early carrier in public service as election Coordinator for Pakistan Muslim LeaguePakistan Muslim League
The Pakistan Muslim League was founded in 1962, as a successor to the previously disbanded Muslim League in Pakistan. Unlike the original PML which ended in 1958 when General Ayub Khan banned all political parties, each subsequent Muslim League was in some way propped by the military dictators of...
in 1970. Later he served as Councilor, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) (1979-1985); Trustee Karachi Port Trust
Karachi Port Trust
Karachi Port Trust is a Pakistani federal government agency that oversees the operations of the Port of Karachi in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.-History:...
(KPT) (1980-1982); Member Provincial Assembly of Sindh
Provincial Assembly of Sindh
The Provincial Assembly of the Sindh is a unicameral house of elected representatives of people of Sindh established under Article 106 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan...
(1985-1988), Speaker, Provincial Assembly of Sindh (1985-1986); and leader of opposition, Provincial Assembly of Sindh (1986-1988).
Hussain Haroon has also served as Consultant, Pakistan Herald Publication Limited (PHPL) (1988-1989); delegate to the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
; Member to the Board of Governors, Institute of Business Administration, Karachi
Institute of Business Administration, Karachi
The Institute of Business Administration is a university and a business school in Karachi, Pakistan. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, IBA is one of the best business and IT institutes in Pakistan...
(1996-1999); Director Board of Directors Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) (1997-1999); Chairman, Griffith College Karachi (1999-2005) and President, Pakistan-China Business Forum (1999-2004). He is the president of English Speaking Union of Pakistan and also has the distinction of being the youngest president of the elite Sind Club.
Social activism
Haroon has demanded the establishment of a town on the outskirts of KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
and proposed that it be named after late Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
. His suggestion was that up to six million people from the interior Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
be settled there. He was also part of the protest against real estate development in Bundal Island
Bundal Island
Bundal Island is a small island located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Bundal, pronounced Bhandar by local fishermen, is a twin island of Buddo and lies to its West. On Bundal Island the tomb of Muslim sufi Yusuf Shah is located. The annual urs of 'Yusuf Shah'...
by UAE-based Emaar Properties
Emaar Properties
Emaar Properties , based in the United Arab Emirates, is a Public Joint Stock Company listed on the Dubai Financial Market. Established in 1997 with an initial paid-up capital of AED 1 bn, Emaar Properties is currently the Persian Gulf region's largest land and real estate developer...
. Haroon is also known to have ably advocated the Sindh case against the Kalabagh Dam
Kalabagh Dam
The Kalabagh dam is a proposed hydroelectric dam on the Indus River at Kalabagh in Mianwali District of the Punjab province in Pakistan. The project has been controversial since its inception.-History:...
.
Ambassador to UN
In July 2008, Hussain Haroon was appointed as the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, replacing veteran Munir Akram
Munir Akram
Munir Akram, HQA was Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations from 2002 to 2008. Following a regime change in 2008, Ambassador Akram stepped down to pursue a career in the private sector...
. The appointment was controversial because Haroon had no prior experience in the Pakistan Foreign Service or international diplomacy. He took over the post on 3 September, 2008.