Hussain Haroon

Abdullah Hussain Haroon (born 21 October 1950) was the Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations from September 2008 to December 2012. 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 organisations.^[1]

Family and education

Hussain Haroon is the elder brother of Hameed Haroon and grandson of Sir Abdullah Haroon, a famous politician, who Muhammad Ali Jinnah called one of the strongest pillars of the Muslim League. He belongs to a well-known Kutchhi family hailed from Kutchh in the neighbouring Indian state of Gujarat, settled in Karachi many years prior to independence of Pakistan in 1947.^[2] He completed his education from Karachi Grammar School and the University of Karachi.

Career

Haroon began his early career in public service as election Coordinator for Pakistan Muslim League 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 Publications 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.^[1]

Social activism

Haroon has demanded the establishment of a town on the outskirts of Karachi 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.^[1] 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.^[3]

Ambassador to UN

In July 2008, Hussain Haroon was appointed as the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, replacing veteran Munir Akram. The appointment was controversial because Haroon had no prior experience in the Pakistan Foreign Service or international diplomacy.^[4] He took over the post on 3 September 2008.^[5] Masood Khan, a career diplomat took over from Haroon from the 1 January 2013.

References

External links

• Profile of Ambassador Hussain Haroon at Pak Mission to UN