IT is uncommon that flair for politics, business acumen and a commitment to philanthropy are combined in the personality of one individual. But Haji Sir Abdullah Haroon, whose death anniversary is being observed today, was one of those rare individuals who excelled in all these fields. A public figure with a conscience, and a key member of the Pakistan Movement, Haroon was no typical seth, but a man with a genuine vision for the betterment of people, and great political foresight.

Abdullah Haroon — orphaned at a young age — faced difficulties in his early years but worked hard and reached the pinnacle of business and political success. He credited his mother for making him who he was. Later in life, remembering his own adversities, he did much to improve the lot of orphans and the destitute through various philanthropic projects.

The list of his philanthropic contributions is considerable, with many of these institutions continuing to operate today, specifically in Karachi. He had also funded Aligarh Muslim University, while despatching help for the Muslims of Palestine and Turkiye.

In business, through sheer hard work, he made a name for himself, and became known as Sindh’s ‘sugar king’. Despite suffering heavy losses in business at times, he refused to give up and continued to persevere. It would not be wrong to say that he was a socially aware businessman, whose aim in life was not merely making profit, but to help others less fortunate by sharing his wealth.

But Abdullah Haroon’s contributions to the political sphere — particularly campaigning for the rights of the subcontinent’s Muslims, as well as a separate identity for Sindh — are no less than his achievements in business and philanthropy. He began his political journey with Congress, but later became a key member of the Muslim League, playing an influential role in organising what would become Pakistan’s grand old party in Sindh. He took part in electoral politics at all tiers, winning seats in the Karachi Municipal Committee, the Bombay Legislative Council, as well as the Indian Legislative Assembly. He was also attached to pan-Islamic causes of the time, playing an active role in the Khilafat Movement.

But perhaps two of his contributions in the political field have had a particularly lasting impact on the history of Pakistan: the resolution passed at the 1938 Sindh Provincial Muslim League Conference held in Karachi, and his efforts to separate Sindh from the Bombay Presidency.

Regarding the first achievement, the 1938 moot, presided over by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, is considered by many historians as the precursor to the Lahore Resolution of 1940, which is a major milestone in the journey towards achieving Pakistan. In the 1938 conference, Abdullah Haroon presciently stated that “we have nearly arrived at the parting of the ways”, anticipating that the only answer to India’s communal problem lay in “separate federations” for Muslims and Hindus. This would prove to be an observation with far-reaching consequences, and the 1940 resolution would only solidify and expand on this idea.

The other major contribution of Haji Abdullah Haroon is the separation of Sindh from Bombay in 1936. Interestingly, many non-Muslim leaders, including prominent Hindus and Parsis, had also endorsed the separation of Sindh. Abdullah Haroon argued that Sindh deserved to be a separate province because of its distinct geography, and the fact that its people had distinct “habits, circumstances and dress”. The Hindu far right at the time had reviled the idea of Sindh’s separation.

However, lar­ge­­ly due to Abdullah Haroon’s relentless efforts, Sindh was given recognition as a unit separate from Bombay — to which it had been attached by the British colonialists in the 19th century — highlighting the province’s unique history, culture and identity.

Though Haji Abdullah Haroon did not live to see an independent Pakistan, and Sindh as an integral part of the federation, as he died in 1942, his efforts for the realisation of Pakistan, as well as the highlighting of Sindh’s identity, cannot be denied. Furthermore, in his life are valuable lessons about honesty in business, sincerity in philanthropy and dedication in public service that continue to be relevant.

Today, in Pakistan’s public sphere, we notice that individuals work in silos. For example, there is the ‘professional’ political class, members of which indulge in wheeling and dealing in order to cling to power. Industrialists, on the other hand, concentrate on making money and staying on the right side of those in power. Meanwhile, some philanthropists make a show of their charity. Abdullah Haroon showed that one could be a principled politician and an honest industrialist who gave back to society without making a show of it.

The writer is a freelance contributor.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2026