Asad Umar
{{Short description|Pakistani politician and former business executive}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Asad Umar
| honorific_suffix = SI
| native_name = {{No bold|{{Script/Nastaliq|اسدعمر}}}}
| native_name_lang = ur
| image = Asad Umar.jpg
| office = Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives
| term_start = 19 November 2019
| term_end = 10 April 2022
| president = Arif Alvi
| primeminister = Imran Khan
| preceded = Khusro Bakhtiar
| succeeded = Ahsan Iqbal
| office1 = Chairman Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs
| president1 = Arif Alvi
| primeminister1 = Imran Khan
| successor1 = Faiz Ullah Kamoka
| term_start1 = 8 May 2019
| term_end1 = 30 November 2019
| office2 = Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs
| term_start2 = 20 August 2018
| term_end2 = 18 April 2019
| president2 = Arif Alvi
| primeminister2 = Imran Khan
| deputy2 = Hammad Azhar (Minister of State for Revenue)
| predecessor2 = Shamshad Akhtar (caretaker)
| successor2 = Abdul Hafeez Shaikh (Finance and Revenue Advisor), Hammad Azhar (Economic Affairs Minister)
| office3 = Chairman Standing Committee on Industries and Production
| term_start3 = 2013
| term_end3 = 2018
| president3 = Mamnoon Hussain
| primeminister3 = Nawaz Sharif
| successor3 = Sajid Hussain Turi
| office4 = Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
| term_start4 = 13 August 2018
| term_end4 = 17 January 2023
| constituency4 = NA-54 (Islamabad-III)
| term_start5 = 16 September 2013
| term_end5 = 31 May 2018
| constituency5 = NA-48 (Islamabad-I)
| office6 = Secretary General of the PTI
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|9|8|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
| nationality = Pakistani
| awards = Sitara-i-Imtiaz
| other party = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.svg}} PTI (2012-2023)
| alma_mater = Institute of Business Administration, Karachi
| website = {{URL|https://asadumar.pk/}}
| relatives = Muhammad Zubair Umar (brother)
| term_start6 = 25 December 2021
| term_end6 = 24 May 2023
| 1blankname6 = Chairman
| 1namedata6 = Imran Khan
}}
Asad Umar ({{langx|ur|اسد عمر}}; born 8 September 1961) is a Pakistani former business executive and politician who served as the Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs Minister of Pakistan from August 2018 to April 2019 and the Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives from November 2019 to April 2022. Prior to entering politics, he served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Engro from 2004 to 2012.{{Cite web |date=2012-04-16 |title=Corporate titan: After 27 years at Engro, Asad Umar calls it a day |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/365621/corporate-titan-after-27-years-at-engro-asad-umar-calls-it-a-day |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}
Asad joined politics in 2012 and served as secretary-general of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from December 2021 to 24 May 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-24 |title=Asad Umar steps down from PTI leadership roles |url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/24-May-2023/asad-umar-resigns-from-pti-leadership-responsibilities |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=Daily Pakistan Global |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2023-05-25 |title=Imran Khan's close aide Asad Umar resigns as PTI's Secretary General |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/imran-khans-close-aide-asad-umar-resigns-as-ptis-secretary-general/article66892041.ece |access-date=2023-06-02 |issn=0971-751X}}
Early life and education
Asad Umar was born in Rawalpindi in 1961 to a military family. His father, Ghulam Umar,{{Cite web |title=Interview with Ghulam Umar, August 8, 2006 |url=https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2016oh331_site060_ohm.xml |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History |language=en}} who retired as a major general, was considered a close aide to President Yahya Khan and served as the first National Security Advisor from 1969 to 1971.{{cite news |title=Brother of Sindh governor and PTI's Asad Umar passes away in Karachi |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1741539/1-brother-sindh-governor-ptis-asad-umar-passes-away-karachi/ |access-date=8 March 2019 |work=The Express Tribune |date=24 June 2018}} He is also the youngest brother of Mohammad Zubair and is the youngest of six brothers and one sister.{{Cite web |title=PML-N appoints Mohammad Zubair as Nawaz Sharif, Maryam's spokesperson |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/725027-pml-n-appoints |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}{{cite news|title=Muhammad Zubair named Sindh governor - The Express Tribune|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1312093/muhammad-zubair-named-sindh-governor/|access-date=26 February 2017|work=The Express Tribune|date=31 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131053139/http://tribune.com.pk/story/1312093/muhammad-zubair-named-sindh-governor/|archive-date=31 January 2017}}{{cite news|title=Two talented brothers wrestle political issues for opposing sides|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1088444|access-date=26 February 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=21 February 2014|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227150003/https://www.dawn.com/news/1088444|archive-date=27 February 2017}} After his father's retirement from the military, he moved to Karachi along with his family.{{cite web|last1=Zehra Shigri|title=Winds of change|url=http://magazine.thenews.com.pk/mag/detail_article.asp?id=2835&magId=9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609105056/http://magazine.thenews.com.pk/mag/detail_article.asp?id=2835&magId=9|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 June 2013|publisher=The News US Magazine|access-date=26 February 2017|date=9 June 2013}}
Asad received an undergraduate degree in commerce (B.Com) from the Government College of Commerce & Economics.{{cite web|title=Featured Interviews - Mr. Asad Umar|url=https://alumni.iba.edu.pk/mr_asad_umar_featured_interviews_alumni_iba.html|website=alumni.iba.edu.pk|publisher=IBA|access-date=26 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009185134/https://alumni.iba.edu.pk/mr_asad_umar_featured_interviews_alumni_iba.html|archive-date=9 October 2016}} He attended IBA Karachi in 1984 from where he received an MBA degree.
Professional career
Asad Umar joined HSBC Pakistan after graduation and continued to work for HSBC for seven months. Later, he joined Exxon Chemical Pakistan in 1985 as a business analyst and was based in Canada. He was the only Pakistani employee of Exxon working abroad (in Canada) when the management buyout of Engro took place in 1991. He came back to Pakistan and in 1997 was appointed the first CEO of Engro Polymer & Chemicals, the group's petrochemical arm.
In 2004, Asad was appointed as the president and CEO of Engro Corporation in 2004. He immediately made the company take a global perspective, becoming the first Pakistani private sector firm to hire US consulting firm McKinsey & Company to help create the Engro's strategy. As a result, Engro made changes to its corporate structure and went on a global expansion kick by buying out a US-based food company and beginning expansion into the fertiliser business in North Africa to supply the European market.
In 2009, he was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz for his public service.{{cite news|title=List of civil award winners|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/943236|access-date=26 February 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=16 August 2009|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227072347/https://www.dawn.com/news/943236|archive-date=27 February 2017}}
He took an early retirement as president and CEO from Engro in April 2012{{cite news|title=Engro president quits|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/711157|access-date=26 February 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=17 April 2012|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227150032/https://www.dawn.com/news/711157|archive-date=27 February 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C04%5C17%5Cstory_17-4-2012_pg10_5|title=Engro CEO Asad Umar decides to quit|date=17 April 2012|newspaper=Daily Times.com|access-date=2012-04-19|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014100442/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C04%5C17%5Cstory_17-4-2012_pg10_5|archive-date=14 October 2013}}{{cite news|title=From Engro to PTI: A look back and forward at Asad Umar's life - The Express Tribune|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/371548/from-engro-to-pti-a-look-back-and-forward-at-asad-umars-life/|access-date=26 February 2017|work=The Express Tribune|date=29 April 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222090445/http://tribune.com.pk/story/371548/from-engro-to-pti-a-look-back-and-forward-at-asad-umars-life/|archive-date=22 December 2016}} at the age of 50 amid speculation that he would pursue a political career.
Umar is credited for turning a chemical company into a major conglomerate and was considered one of the most popular and highly paid CEOs in Pakistan. During his tenure as CEO of Engro Corporation, Umar was paid about PKR 68.6 million for the year 2011.
Political career
= 2012–2018: Member of the National Assembly =
He joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 2012 and was made Senior Vice President.{{cite news|title=New recruit: Former Engro CEO Asad Umar joins PTI - The Express Tribune|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/366776/new-recruit-former-engro-ceo-asad-umar-joins-pti/|access-date=26 February 2017|work=The Express Tribune|date=19 April 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221164359/http://tribune.com.pk/story/366776/new-recruit-former-engro-ceo-asad-umar-joins-pti/|archive-date=21 December 2016}}{{cite news|title=Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/797424/pakistan-tehrik-e-insaf-pti|access-date=26 February 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=23 March 2013|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227072352/https://www.dawn.com/news/797424/pakistan-tehrik-e-insaf-pti|archive-date=27 February 2017}}
He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Constituency NA-48 (Islamabad-I) as a candidate of PTI in the by-elections held in August 2013.{{cite news|title=PTI man wins NA-48 amid low turnout|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1037708|access-date=26 February 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=23 August 2013|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227072344/https://www.dawn.com/news/1037708|archive-date=27 February 2017}}{{cite news|title=By-election: 32 per cent turnout in NA-48 by-election - The Express Tribune|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/594370/by-election-32-per-cent-turnout-in-na-48-by-election/|access-date=26 February 2017|work=The Express Tribune|date=24 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823202035/http://tribune.com.pk/story/594370/by-election-32-per-cent-turnout-in-na-48-by-election/|archive-date=23 August 2013}} He received 48,073 votes, defeated a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (N) and became an MNA.{{cite web|title=2013 election result|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202013%20report/Election%20Report%202013%20Volume-II.pdf|publisher=ECP|access-date=25 April 2018|archive-date=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201140612/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202013%20report/Election%20Report%202013%20Volume-II.pdf|url-status=dead}} In 2014, Lahore University of Management Sciences cancelled a scheduled speech of Umar due to being political in nature rather than educational.{{cite news|title=LUMS cancels Asad Umar's talk|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1143874|access-date=26 February 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=12 November 2014|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227150029/https://www.dawn.com/news/1143874|archive-date=27 February 2017}}
= Re-election and ministries (2018–2023) =
He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PTI from Constituency NA-54 (Islamabad-III) in the 2018 Pakistani general election.{{cite news |title=Pakistan election results live: Imran Khan wins in Pakistan but needs support to form government |url=https://gulfnews.com/news/asia/pakistan/pakistan-election-results-live-imran-khan-wins-in-pakistan-but-needs-support-to-form-government-1.2257370 |access-date=1 August 2018 |work=GulfNews |date=27 July 2018}} He received 56,945 votes and defeated Anjum Aqeel Khan and again became an MNA.{{Cite web |title=NA-54 Result - Election Results 2018 - Islamabad 3 - NA-54 Candidates - NA-54 Constituency Details - thenews.com.pk |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/election/constituency/NA-54 |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=www.thenews.com.pk}} After Pakistan General Elections 2018, Asad served in the following Standing Committees of the National Assembly:
- Special Committee on Agricultural Products.
- Non-Ministerial Standing Committee on Business Advisory.
- Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs. (Chairman Committee from 8 May 2019 till 30 November 2019)
Following his successful election, Umar was named as the potential candidate for the office of Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs.{{cite news |title=Naya minister, meet purani ministry - Profit by Pakistan Today |url=https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/07/30/naya-minister-meet-purani-ministry/ |access-date=9 August 2018 |work=Profit by Pakistan Today |date=30 July 2018}} On 20 August 2018, he was sworn in as the Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Minister of Pakistan in the Federal Cabinet of Prime Minister Imran Khan.{{Cite web |last=Dawn.com |date=2018-08-20 |title=16 ministers from PM Khan's cabinet sworn in |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1428169 |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} On 18 September 2018, he presented the amended finance bill for fiscal year 2018-2019 in the National Assembly.{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Sanaullah |title=Government cuts development spending, increases taxes on country's elite |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1433668/government-cuts-development-spending-increases-taxes-on-countrys-elite |access-date=18 September 2018 |work=DAWN.COM |date=18 September 2018}}
On 11 October 2018, Umar held a meeting with Christine Lagarde, chair of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and formally applied for a bailout package.{{Cite news |last1=Politi |first1=James |last2=Bokhari |first2=Farhan |date=2018-10-11 |title=Pakistan formally seeks 'financial assistance' from IMF |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/005393f2-cd2d-11e8-9fe5-24ad351828ab |access-date=2022-04-07}} That same month news reports emerged that Prime Minister Imran Khan had expressed dissatisfaction and reservations over Umar's performance as Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs - the mentioned claims that were refuted.{{Cite web |date=2018-10-12 |title=Reports PM unhappy over Asad Umar's performance refuted |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1824400/1-reports-pm-unhappy-asad-umars-performance-refuted |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} On 18 April 2019, he stepped down from the Finance Ministry.{{Cite web |last=Dawn.com |date=2019-04-18 |title='Time to take difficult decisions': Asad Umar steps down as finance minister, will not hold any portfolio |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1476921 |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}
From 8 May 2019 till 30 November 2019, Asad Umar served as the Chairman Standing Committee of the National Assembly of Pakistan for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs. This is a key office as the chairman can ask the finance minister and his ministry regarding their performance. Moreover, the chairman can also give advice to the finance minister and the finance ministry regarding their policies. On 9 July 2019, Umar started working as the Member of Economic Advisory Council (Pakistan) after the recommendations of Prime Minister Khan.
He is working as the Focal Person for Supervision & Coordination amongst Government Agencies for All Mega Projects in Karachi funded by the Federal government of Pakistan since 1 November 2019.
On 30 September 2019, news emerged that Imran Khan will do a cabinet reshuffle, and Umar would return to the cabinet. On 19 November 2019, he was reinducted into Federal Cabinet and appointed as Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Refor, and Special Initiatives. He was previously working as the Chairman of the cabinet committee on the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor.
On 20 March 2020, he was appointed as the Chairman of Cabinet Committee on Energy, replacing Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. He also chaired the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) that dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan.
= Party positions =
Chairman PTI Imran Khan appointed Asad Umar as PTI secretary-general on 25 December 2021.{{Cite web |title=PM Imran Khan appoints Asad Umar as PTI secretary-general in new party setup |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/919741-pm-imran-khan-unveils-ptis-new-party-structure |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}} On 25 May 2023, Asad Umar resigned from his party position as Secretary General of PTI by condemning the attacks on 9 May.{{Cite web |author=Web Desk |date=2023-05-26 |title=45 Members Left in the recent wave of Departures from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) |url=https://lifeinpakistan.net/45-members-left-in-the-recent-wave-of-departures-from-pakistan-tehreek-e-insaf-pti/ |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Life In Pakistan |language=en-US}}
= Retirement =
Following the arrest of party leader Imran Khan on 9 May 2023, and subsequent nationwide riots, the PTI faced a government crackdown that included the arrest of hundreds of prominent members.{{Cite web |last=Dawn.com |date=2023-11-11 |title=Asad Umar resigns from PTI, completely quits politics |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1788420 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}
In a press conference on 24 May 2023, Umar condemned the violence of 9 May and announced his resignation from party positions.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-24 |title=Asad Umar resigns as PTI secretary general |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40243895 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=Brecorder |language=en}} Later in November 2023, he formally declared his departure from politics altogether, citing disagreement with the party's confrontational approach towards state institutions.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Finance Minister of Pakistan}}
{{Khan Cabinet}}
{{Engro}}
{{Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Umar, Asad}}
Category:Ministers of finance of Pakistan
Category:Pakistani chief executives
Category:Pakistani MNAs 2013–2018
Category:Pakistani MNAs 2018–2023
Category:Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz
Category:Pakistani expatriates in Canada
Category:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNAs
Category:Businesspeople from Karachi
Category:Politicians from Karachi
Category:Politicians from Islamabad
Category:Institute of Business Administration, Karachi alumni