| Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi | |
|---|---|
| Chairman Council of Past Presidents, Pakistan Chamber of Commerce-USA | |
| In office Jan 1, 2011 – Dec 31, 2011 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 July 1966 Pakistan |
| Political party | Pakistan Tehrike Insaaf PTI |
| Alma mater | Delhi College, Karachi NED Engineering University IBA, Karachi |
| Profession | Engineer/Businessmen/Op-ed Columnist/Politician |
| Religion | Islam |
Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi is a Pakistani businessman and political activist. He was elected as president of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce-USA in 2010. He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of getTickets, LLC and Interactive Ventures. The company owns and operates a network of over 200 web sites in many verticals including city portals, travel, news, automotive, finance, career and entertainment sectors. To keep people informed and educated on politics and social issues Interactive Ventures launched getPakistan.tv and DemocracyinPakistan.com. He is member of Pakistan Tehrike Insaaf (PTI) working in developing the team in D I Khan and Tank areas of Khber Pakhtoonkhwa Province.
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Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi is the member of Kundi tribe that hails from Dera Ismail Khan and Tank area of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province of Pakistan. This is a pashtoo speaking tribe and has produced many prominent businessmen, politician and soldiers.
He has Bachelors of Engineering (BE) degree from NED University of Engineering & Technology in Computer Systems. He later attended institute of Business Administration, Karachi (IBA) to get a Masters in Business administration (MBA).
After graduating from NED University of Engineering and Technology Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi started his career with Zelin (pvt.)Ltd. an engineering firm that has since been closed down. He later worked as branch manager with EFU Life Insurance company and then became head of Money Market and Fixed Income with KASB Securities, one of the leading stock broker of Karachi Stock Exchange.
After migrating to USA, he started two companies i.e. getTickets, LLC and Interactive Ventures. getTickets, LLC was the first travel services company to start a call center in Karachi to cater to international travelers in USA. In 2007, he founded Interactive Ventures owns and operates a network of over 200 web sites in many verticals including city portals, travel, news, automotive, finance, career and entertainment sectors. To keep people informed and educated on politics and social issues Interactive Ventures launched getPakistan.tv and WorldTalk.tv.
During his term as the President of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce-USA (PCC-USA), a Coal Forum was organized in Houston which was widely attended by leading coal technology companies, investment banks, GE Power, Worley Parsons, US eximp bank, Thar Coal Authority and Engro Coal Power Company. As a business and community leader he has been promoting investment in the services sector of Pakistan especially call centers, data processing and web applications.
As member of the executive board of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce-USA (PCC-USA) he has been credited with initiating policy document "Ideas for Pakistan" which is published annually and submitted to key policy makers in USA and Pakistan. He was instrumental in the signing of sister city agreement between Houston and Karachi as well as preparation of the proposal to sign this historic protocol. He was member of the team to lobby for the execution of Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between the two countries. Absence of this important trade document has hampered the foreign direct investment in Pakistan as well as embark on an Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He was part of the delegation that executed Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) with Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI), Pakistan Gem & Jewelry Development Company (PGJDC), and Haripur Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Under his leadership PCC-USA organized first ever Chamber Presidents Summit in collaboration with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) which was attended by Presidents and delegation of seven leading chamber of the country.
Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi has been a contributing columnist for leading Pakistani newspapers The Frontier Post, The Daily Times, Daily DAWN and weekly Pakistan Chronicle. He has also written speeches and advised local politicians on election campaigns. His op-ed columns cover topics related to politics, social issues and foreign policy.
He was the first opinion maker to present the idea that the Palestinian bid for UN security council membership was supported by the United States of America behind the scenes. His theory was based on the strategic shifts in US policy; Israel's intransigent to engage in a viable peace process; pressure from US allies like Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to support Palestinian membership in the UN. [1] [2]The idea was subsequently supported when Palestinian application for UNESCO was accepted by a majority vote which could support full UN membership. [3] In a recent speech US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta warned that Israel will be diplomatically isolated if they do not find a solution to the Middle East Peace process. [4]
In his writing Kundi has presented the contemporary views of Islamic Economic System[5] [6]and Islamic Social system [7] [8]. His main source for these ideas is Quran, interpreted in the light of recent discoveries in technology and developments in the social science.
In 2010, he joined Pakistan Tehrike Insaaf after a lengthy discussions with Chairman of PTI Imran Khan in Islamabad. He is active in developing the PTI team in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank areas of Khber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK). During his visit to D I Khan in October 2011, he nominated Imran Khan as a candidate of PTI for NA-24 in a press conference. The nomination has to be formally accepted by Imran Khan once the election dates are announced and parliamentary board acceptance.
He has been active in providing advice to the central executive committee members of PTI.