14 Notable Alumni of Quaid-i-azam University, You don’t know about.

Quaid-i-azam University is a public research university located in Islamabad, Pakistan founded as the University of Islamabad in 1967. The university has as of 2015, grown into the largest university in Islamabad with a total enrollment exceeding 13,000 students. The university is located on a 1700 acres campus on the foothills of the Margalla. Divided into four faculties and nine affiliated research institutes, QAU is among Pakistan's largest and highest ranked public universities. It is has been consistently ranked among the top 700 universities in the world by the QS World University Rankings while it's regional publications ranked QAU among 120 in Asia in 2013. 

Notable Alumni of QAU:

QAU one of the most popular universities in the country and counts several public figures and intellectuals among its current and former faculty, researchers, or alumni since its establishment. 

1.     Shamshad Akhtar:

Shamshad Akhtar is a Pakistani development economist, diplomat and intellectual who serve as the Under Secretary General of the United Nations at the head of UNESCAP. Prior to that, she served as the 14^th Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, the first woman to assume this position. She also served as a senior adviser to Secretary General of United Nations Ban Ki Moon and the vice president at the World Bank. She had her earlier education at Karachi and Islamabad and graduated from the University of Punjab with B.A in 1974 and followed by M.A in Economics from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad in 1975.

2.  Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudary

Prof Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudary is a Pakistani Meteorologist and research scientist. He is current Vice President of World Meteorological Organization. He was retired from the position of Director General of Pakistan Meteorology on 13^th September 2010. He is a researcher in the field of Meteorology, atmospheric Science, Hydrology and Seismology. He is well known Pakistani Scientist who has written articles in the fields of Meteorology, Atmospheric Science and Earthquakes.He received his early education from Lahore. Later he attended GC University Lahore where he receives B.sc in Physics with honors and then M.sc in Physics from Quaid-i-azam University Islamabad. He received his PhD in meteorology from University of the Philippines Los Banos.

3. Abrar ul haq:

Abrar-ul-Haq is a Pakistani Pop, Bangra and Folk Musician and politician. He is also the Secretray of Foreign Affairs and President of Youth Wing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Before becoming a singer, he was a Geography teacher at the Aitchison College in Lahore. He is current Chairman of Youth Parliament of Pakistan. He completed his Bachelor’s degree from Sir Syed College in Rawalpindi, and then he completed his Master’s Degree in Social Science from Quaid-i-azam University Islamabad.

4. Hamza Ali Abbasi:

Hamza Ali Abbasi born is a renowned Pakistani theatre, film and television actor, model and director.  He is known for his roles as Afzal in the drama serial Pyarey Afzal, and as Salahuddin in the drama serial Mann Mayal. He began his acting career in 2006 in the play Dally in the Dark, which was produced by Shah Shahrahbeel. He made his film debut in a short film.

He is one of the most educated actors in Pakistan, he passed CSS examination and appointed as CSP officer in Punjab police to fulfill his mother’s desire but soon he left the post. He has done his Bachelors in International Relation from USA and got his Master’s degree in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad.

5.  Naela Chohan :

Naela Chohan is a Pakistani ambassador and Women's Rights advocate and artist. As a seasoned and veteran diplomat, Naela Chohan has assumed a leadership position in eight different Pakistani diplomatic missions on five different continents. She is a hyper polyglot with demonstrable fluency in seven Indo-European languages languages including Persian, French, and Spanish. She is the current Ambassador of Pakistan to Australia, where she has laid emphasis on bolstering bilateral ties, therein prioritizing the enhancement of security, agricultural, educational and economic relations.

Naela Chohan holds a master's degree in International Relations from Quaid-e-Azam University (1982), and a PhD session certificate in International Relations from Centre d'Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques in Paris (2002).

6. Khalid Shameem Wynne:

Khalid Shameem Wynne is a retired Pakistani four-star general officer who tenured as the 14th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee before retiring on 7 October 2013. Prior to his promotion, the official statement noted that "General Wynne was appointed as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee by President Asif Ali Zardari, on the advice of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

 He graduated from Command and Staff College, Quetta. He completed his Master’s degree in War Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University.

7. Ashraf Mehmood Wathra:

Ashraf Mahmood Wathra is the 18th Governor of State Bank of Pakistan. He is appointed as the governor on April 29, 2014.  He represents Pakistan in several international forums. He serves on the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund, Asian Clearing Union and ECO Trade and Development Bank. He is also the council member of Islamic Financial Stability Board. Since July 1, 2015, Governor Wathra has been the co-chair of the Financial Stability Board - Regional Consultative Group for Asia (FSB-RCG Asia). He will serve as co-chair for a period of two years. He has a Master degree in Business Administration from Quaid-i-azam University Islamabad.

8. Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah 

Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah is an active four-star rank admiral and the current Chief of Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy having been promoted to the four-star assignment on 2 October 2014. He has served on several prestigious operational and staff positions in the Pakistan Navy. His last appointment before becoming Chief of the Naval Staff was that of Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. He is also an avid sportsman, having been decorated by President of Pakistan with Pride of Performance for outstanding performance in yachting. He earned master's degree from Royal Naval Staff College in the United Kingdom and attended the London University where he obtained MA in Defence studies and M.Sc in War studies from Quaid-e-Azam University. 

9. Salma Zahid

Salma Zahid is a Canadian politician, who was elected as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada to represent the federal riding of Scarborough Centre during the 2015 Canadian federal election. She succeeded the Conservative Roxanne James.  He was born in Coventry, England. She holds a Masters in Educational Management and Administration from the University of London’s Institute of Education, and an MBA from Quaid-i-Azam University in Pakistan. She is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

10. Naseem Zehra :

Naseem Zehra is a Pakistani journalist and writer who host prime time current affairs on Channel 24. She worked as a development practitioner, working with the Canadian International Development Agency and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Zehra served as a visiting lecturer at the School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University in 2006, and later at the Quaid-i-Azam University in 2010.  She worked as a development practitioner, working with the Canadian International Development Agency and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

She has a Master in International Security Studies from Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and Master in Business Administration from Quaid-i-azam University Islamabad.

12. Hareem Farooq:

Hareem Farooq is a Pakistani film and television actress.  She is a very famous and young actress. She is appeared in many drama serials and performs a very sensible in drama. She is very famous on HUM TV'S Drama Diyar e Dill.

Hareem went to Karachi grammar school where she completed her A-levels. Later on, from Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, She completed her graduation in sociology and journalism and set off to her journey in showbiz.

12. Marriyum Aurangzeb :

Marriyum Aurangzeb is a Pakistani politician who currently serves as the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting in the third Sharif ministry. A member of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), Aurangzeb was educated at the Federal Government College, Islamabad and Quaid-e-Azam University and later attended the King's College London in the United Kingdom. Prior to entering politics, she worked as a development practitioner with the WWF. She has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan on a reserved seat for women since 2013.

She did her graduation from the Federal Government College in Islamabad and went to receive a M.A in economics from the Quaid-e-Azam University. She later moved to London, where she received a Master's degree from the the King’s College of London in environmental and development policy.

13. Rana Mubashir

Rana Mubashir is a Pakistani television news journalist and talk show host who are known more notably for his current affairs show Rana Mubashir at Prime Time on News One. He specializes and focuses mostly on Pakistani politics and has interviewed a number of high profile personalities, both within and outside the country. A professional journalist with over 20 year’s experience, specializing in investigative reporting and working as Consultant Current Affairs and then Director News. He is dynamite journalist with over 20 years experience; he started his career in journalism from Jang Group of Newspapers as Staff Reporter from 1990 to 2006. During his journalistic career he was always been interested in investigative reporting and penned down various investigative stories. Rana has also worked in PTV as consultant Current Affairs and Business plus TV as Director News.

He used to live in capital of Pakistan, Islamabad where he completed his early education and then joined Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad for his Masters Degree and completed M.Sc. Defence & Strategic Studies.

14. Khatija Mushtaq

Khadija Mushtaq is a Pakistani educationist and an entrepreneur who serves as the Principal of Roots School System, Pakistan's DHA-1 Campus and Executive Director of the Board of Directors for the Roots School System. She is the CEO of Roots Ivy International Schools and the chancellor of Roots Ivy International University. She represented Pakistan at the University Of London International Programmers Global Symposium 2014. She is also a Women Empowerment Activist and Patron in Chief of several NGO's, including Liberating the Girl Child Foundation and Environment Pakistan.  She founded Roots School System, Pakistan on Harley Street, Rawalpindi.

He got her bachelor's degree from University of London International Programmes in economics, statistics and mathematics, followed by a Master of Economics from Quaid-i-Azam University. She launched and became the head of University of London International Programme at Roots.

Quaidian’s Once, Quaidian’s  Forever

The materials used in this article are collected from Wikipedia, QAU Alumni Website and QAU Websites. There may be unauthenticated of any facts stated in the above article. Suggestions will be welcome

Written By:
Ghulam Hasnain