HYDERABAD, Sept 7: World renowned scholar and dean, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Professor Kishore Mahbubani, arrived here on Friday to search roots of his family as his parents belonged to Hyderabad.

Accompanied by MPA Dr Ramesh Lal, Professor Mahbubani visited the house of his parents in Gari Khata. In a brief talk, he said that he had come to Hyderabad to visit his roots as he was born in Singapore. He thanked the government of Pakistan for treating him as state guest.

The author also expressed wish that somebody should translate his books in Sindhi language to help him reach the Sindhi readership.

He said that he will visit Islamabad to meet Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who was a personal friend of him as they had lived in the same building in the US.

District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil welcomed the distinguished guest at his office and discussed with him aspects of cooperation in the field of education. The nazim apprised him about activities of the district government and progress so far made in various sectors. The nazim hosted lunch in his honour and presented traditional gifts to him.

Professor Mahbubani presented his books and other publications to the nazim.

Later, the scholar visited the press club.

The author of “Beyond the Age of Innocence” and “Can Asians Think”, Mr Mahbubani has been writing on public issues for the past many years. He remained in Singapore Foreign Service from 1971 to 2004 and served in various capacities in Cambodia, Malaysia and Washington and was the president of the UN Security Council in January 2001 and May 2002.