KARACHI, Jan 2: One of the founding members of the National Bank of Pakistan and a retired treasurer and controller of the Asian Development Bank, Syed Mohammad Abbas Kazmi, passed away here on Dec 31.

He is survived by a son, two daughters and several grandchildren.

Soyem will be held on Tuesday in the Defence Imambargah, Phase IV, between Asr and Maghreb prayers.

Mr Kazmi had come to Karachi from Hyderabad Deccan as manager of the Hyderabad State Bank, and after the fall of that state in 1948 decided to stay here.

He played pioneering role in the establishment of the NBP and later in the establishment of the Commerce Bank Limited.

After an illustrious career as a banker, he was selected by the government to represent Pakistan at the Asian Development Bank in 1967. He worked with the ADB until 1982.