QUETTA: A book on the journey of former mayor of Karachi H.M. Habibullah Paracha was launched here on Thursday.

Titled as ‘Paracha-HM Habibullah’s Journey Across the Silk Road and Beyond’ the book has been written by Mr Paracha’s granddaughter, Nazli Rafat Jamal.

Speaking on the occasion, Balochistan Governor Mohammad Khan Achakzai paid tribute to Mr Paracha and said that he had good understanding of economic developments in many Asian countries during his time.

He said during his journey Mr Paracha had visited various regions, including Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Shanghai (China), Shizuoka (Japan) and Amritsar (India), and studied their economic developments. He said Mr Paracha had witnessed the 1917’s Bolshevik revolution and the overthrow of Tsarist autocracy in Russia. He was awarded the title of Khan Bahadur in Amritsar.

Mr Paracha was made mayor of Karachi in 1953 and during his tenure he had hosted several world dignitaries, including the queen of England, president Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein of Egypt and president John F. Kennedy.

Former federal information minister Javed Jabbar said Mr Paracha, who also remained Pakistan’s ambassador to Malaysia, had played an important role in improving the progressive image of the country.

Ms Jamal said her grandfather served people of the country as a politician, trader, social worker, mayor and ambassador. Ayyub Baloch and Asmat­ul­lah Paracha also spoke.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2015

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