KARACHI: Former Sindh Governor Kamaluddin Azfar passed away on Monday at Ziauddin Hospital in Karachi, as confirmed by his family and party officials.
According to PPP Sindh Secretary General Senator Waqar Mehdi, Azfar’s funeral arrangements will be made following the arrival of his children from abroad.
Azfar was a prominent political figure and a close associate of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He served in various significant positions, including as PPP Karachi president, and was fondly referred to as the “son of Karachi.” A key contributor to the city’s development, Azfar played a crucial role in constructing apartments for lower-income communities in Karachi’s Lines Area.
In 1995, Azfar relinquished his position as a senator when he was appointed the governor of Sindh by then-PM Benazir Bhutto. Throughout his career, he also held important posts such as the finance minister of Sindh, federal minister for local government and rural development, and special assistant to the prime minister.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed his condolences, describing Azfar as a “wise politician” whose services would be remembered. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also paid tribute to Azfar, acknowledging his long-standing work with Shaheed Benazir Bhutto on local government policies and other initiatives.
Azfar, a distinguished lawyer, writer, and political figure, was educated at Government College, Lahore, and Balliol College, Oxford. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple, London. Upon returning to Pakistan, he established his law practice in Karachi and later became a prolific writer, authoring books on economics, history, and politics.
His notable works include The Chinese Synthesis (1975), Pakistan: Political and Constitutional Dilemmas (1987), and Discovery of Pakistan (2005), among others.
The Karachi Literature Festival, where Azfar had spoken multiple times, also remembered him for his contributions as both a lawyer and a writer. His death marks the end of an era of political and intellectual influence in the city and beyond.
