ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: Former foreign secretary Dr Tanvir Ahmed Khan died here on Saturday following a protracted illness. He was 81.

According to his family, he was suffering from lung cancer and was being treated at a hospital at the time of his death.

Tanvir Ahmed Khan was born in 1932 in Hoshiarpur, which is now part of Indian province of Punjab. His family migrated to Pakistan after 1947 and settled in Lahore. He graduated from Government College Lahore before going to Brasenose College, University of Oxford, where he studied English literature.

After a brief stint as a lecturer, Dr Khan joined the Foreign Service and rose to become the foreign secretary and served in that position from 1989-90.

He remained country’s ambassador to Russia, Bangladesh, former Czechoslovakia, Iran and France. He also served as information secretary.

After retirement, Dr Khan worked as director general and chairman of the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad. He regularly wrote articles for newspapers.

His funeral will be held at H-8 graveyard Islamabad on Sunday at 1.30pm.

President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condoled the death of Dr Khan.In his condolence message, Mr Hussain lauded the services of Dr Khan and said he was an eminent diplomat.

Mr Sharif said: “Services of Dr Khan in the realm of foreign policy and diplomacy will be remembered long”.