September 9, 2010

Shahid Hafiz Kardar (Class of 1968) appointed Governor of State Bank of Pakistan

The President of Pakistan has appointed Shahid Hafiz Kardar (Class of 1968) as Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for a period of three years.

Shahid Kardar is an economist of repute and is the 16th Governor of SBP since its inception in 1948.  He is the son of Pakistan's former test cricket captain Abdul Hafiz Kardar.

Prior to being appointed as the Governor, he was associated with Issues and Policies Consultants as Managing Partner since 2001. Kardar had also served as Minister for Finance, Planning & Development, Excise and Taxation and Industries & Minerals Development, Government of Punjab from November 1999 to January 2001. Shaid Kardar regularly provides consultancy services to multilateral and bilateral donors like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Department for International Development (DFID) of the UK, etc.

During his long and illustrious career, he also held several other key positions including:

  - Chairman Punjab Education Foundation

  - Member National Commission for Government Reform

  - Member Banking Laws Review Commission

  - Member Advisory Board of Kashf Microfinance Bank Limited

He has also served numerous other organization in various capacities, including:

  - Honorary Treasurer, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

  - Member, Board of Governors, Beaconhouse National University and Foundation

  - Director, Royal Bank of Scotland Pakistan

  - Director, Service Industries Limited

  - Director, Pakistan Security Printing Corporation

  - Director Free Media Foundation (South Asia Free Media Association)

  - Member, Task Force on Education

He has authored three books namely

  - Reflections on Pakistan's Economy

  - The Political Economy of Pakistan

  - Polarisation in the Regions: The Roots of Discontent

Shahid Kardar is a visiting lecturer at Pakistan School of Public Policy, National Defence College, Pakistan Administrative Staff College, NIPA and Civil Services Academy. He is also a regular guest speaker at seminars organized within the country and abroad by academic institutions, multilateral and bilateral financial institutions and NGOs.