Khurram Dastgir Khan
| MNA Khurram Dastgir Khan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Commerce Minister of Pakistan | |
|
Assumed office 12 January 2014 | |
| President | Mamnoon Hussain |
| Prime Minister | Nawaz Sharif |
| Preceded by | Mubashir Hassan |
| Constituency | Gujranwala-II, NA-96 |
| Minister of State for the Ministry of Commerce | |
|
In office 7 June 2013 – 11 January 2014 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Khurram Dastigar Khan August 12, 1970 Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Citizenship |
 Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistan |
| Political party |
Pakistan Muslim League (N) 1997-Present |
| Relations | Khurram Dastigar Khan, Sr. (father) |
| Residence | Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Alma mater |
California Institute of Technology BSc Bowdoin College BA |
| Cabinet | Sharif Ministry |
| Religion | Islam |
Khurram Dastgir Khan (Urdu: خرم داستگر خان; b. 12 August 1970), is a Pakistani politician, electrical engineer, economist, and the incumbent Commerce Minister of Pakistan, appointed in the Ministry on 12 January 2014. However, Mr. Dastgir remains an influential figure and has successfully defended his constituency multiple times and has played a leading role in the induction of a number of acts in Parliament. [1]
Biography
Early life and education
Khurram Dastgir Khan was born in Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan, on 3 August 1970.[2] His father, Mr. Ghulam Dastgir Khan, former Federal Minister, stood well in general elections held on time interval of 1977, 1990, and 1997.
He studied at the St. Joseph's High School in Gujranwala and went to attend the prestigious Cadet College, Hasan Abdal, a private boarding school near Islamabad.[3] After doing high school from the Cadet College, Hasan Abdal in 1987, Dastgir attended the Government College, Lahore for a brief time and made a transfer to University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore to study electrical engineering.[4]
He soon left UET, Lahore for the United States and attended the Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine from where he graduated in Economics in 1993.[5] Upon moving to Anaheim, California, he got enrolled at the California Institute of Technology and did his electrical engineering in 1995.[6] At Caltech, he worked on manufacturing differential amplifiers and microprocessors before graduating.[6]
Career in national politics
Upon returning to Pakistan, Dastgir joined his family business and became a lifetime member of Pakistan Engineering Council .[7] He assisted his father in the general elections held in 1997.[4] In 1999, he was appointed as Special Assistant to Prime Minister on by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.[4] His tenure was terminated on 12 October 1999 by a coup d'état staged by General Pervez Musharraf. During 1999-2008, he led resistance to authoritarian rule in his native Gujranwala town and participated actively in PML(N)’s national resistance.[8]
He contested for National Assembly from NA-96 constituency in Gujranwala and got defeated in general elections held in 2002.[9] From 2006–09, he worked on building his reputation in the PML(N) where he eventually became party's Central Deputy Secretary Information.[9]
In 2008, he successfully ran for his NA-96 constituency on PML(N) platform.[10] He played a crucial role in the Parliament in favour of Lawyer's Movement when he moved the first-ever bill after submitting the "Oath of Office (Judges) Order (Repeal) Act" on March 2008.[5] He was elected as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Commerce on 23 October 2008. In Parliament, he has led legislative efforts on restructuring Pakistan's anti-dumping and insurance statutes, regulation of trade bodies, empowering the Standing Committees with budgetary approval of ministries and, most recently, reform of high treason law.[9] During 2008-13, he served as Chairman of the standing Committee on Commerce and as a member of the Public Accounts Committee and the special Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Affairs.[11]
Minister of Commerce (2014–)
In 2013, he again successfully defended his NA-96 constituency.[10] On 7 January 2014 he took oath as Minister for Commerce in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Cabinet. Before being elevated to this position, he served as Minister of State in Ministries of Commerce, Textile Industry and Privatization.[12] At the Ministry of Commerce, Khurram Dastgir Khan has revitalized Pakistan’s trade diplomacy. He spearheaded the successful campaign to obtain GSP+ trade preferences for Pakistan from the European Union. In spring 2014, he led vital negotiations to obtain reciprocal market access for Pakistan and to normalize trade with India. His vigorous diplomacy has led to start of Pakistan’s negotiations for free trade agreements with Turkey and Thailand. Under his stewardship, the Ministry of Commerce has revamped national trade defence laws, obtained approval for Pakistan’s accession to TIR convention, and has successfully concluded institutional reforms of the Ministry itself as well as its attached departments. He has steered the drive for a qualitative shift towards value-addition and diversification in Pakistan’s exports. [13]
See also
References
- ↑ "National Assembly Profile". National Assembly of Pakistan. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ↑ Staff writer. "Engineer Khurram Dastagir". Herald Magazine. Herald Magazine. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ↑ et. al. "Profiles of Pakistani Delegation". Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- 1 2 3 et., al. staff writer (28 April 2008). "Khurram Dastgir Khan elected MNA from Gujranwala". Alumuns section of the Cadet College Hassan Abdal. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- 1 2 Briley, Emily. "Alumni of the Bowdoin College". Alumnus Center of Bowdoin College. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- 1 2 Unknown. "Khurram Dastigar Khan. Commerce Minister". Manager Today. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ↑ "Education Profile". Herald Pakistan. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ↑ staff. "Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan MNA MINISTER OF COMMERCE, PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS, FOREIGN AFFAIRS". Foreign Affairs Ministry press. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- 1 2 3 PILDAT: Profiles of delegates. "PILDAT: Profiles of delegates". PILDAT: Profiles of delegates. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- 1 2 "Winning Elections 2 times". Geo tv. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ↑ "Political Career". Ministry of foreign Affairs Pakistan. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ↑ "Oath as Minister". Express tribune. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ↑ http://www.commerce.gov.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CMNewProfileJune15.pdf
