Who is who in newly-unveiled cabinet?

KABUL (Pajhwok): Given bellow are biographies of the ministers-designate, who have been introduced to the parliament by the national unity government.

1- Noorul Haq Ulumi, Minister of Interior, is the son of Abdul Azim Ulumi and was born on August 15, 1941 in Kabul. He went to Habibia High School before joining the Military Academy. He has two sons and a daughter, who currently live in Holland. Ulumi completed an officer’s training course in 1972 and later on went to the US for higher studies. Apart from serving in various positions in the army, he also taught for 11 years on officers’ training programmes. In 1980 he was held as a political prisoner in Pul-i-Charkhi prison. In 1982 Ulumi was designated as commander of 1^st central corpse and then became commander of 2^nd corps in Kandahar. In 1982 he travelled to the former Soviet Union for higher educations. He is leader of Mutahid-i-Milli party and executive head of national coalition. He has also served as head of the defence committee of Wolesi Jirga.

2-Mahmood Saiqal, Minister of Energy and Water, was born in Kabul. He has studied development and diplomacy, having held several positions including deputy foreign minister, advisor to the UN and other international organisations and ambassador to Australia. He has double bachelors in design and architecture and a master’s in international development from Australia.

3-Syed Hussein Alami Balkhi, Minister of Refugees, is the son of Syed Mir Aqa and was born in 1975 in Balkh province. He is married with five sons and two daughters. He holds a doctorate in Islamic Studies from an Iranian university. He was a cabinet member in the Hamid Karzai administration and was also a member of parliament

4-Sardar Mohammad Rahman Oghli, Minister of Economy, is a son of Rahman Bhai. Born in 1965 in Faryab province, he is married and has four daughters and two sons. He has a master’s degree in radio and television. He has held several positions in national radio and TV, Balkh University, commerce department, editorial positions in media and was also head of Radio Liberty in Turkey.

5-Mohammad Gul Zalmai Younusi, Minister of Education, is a son of Mohammad Younusi and was born in 1958 in Balkh province. He has a degree in law and political science from Kabul University. Earlier, he worked as a prosecutor in the Attorney General’s Office and actively participated in several Loya Jirgas.

6- alahuddin Rabbani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is the son of former president Burhanuddin Rabbani. Born in 1972 in Kabul, he has has a degree in marketing and management from Malik Fahd University in Saudi Arabia and a master’s degree in the same field from the Kingston University in the UK. His second master’s degree is in International Relations from Columbia University of New York. He has worked as Afghanistan after the assassination of his father.

7- Dr. Ahmad Sayar Mahjoor, Minister of Justice, was born in 1965 in Baghlan province. He has degrees in Islamic Studies and political science from Pakistan and later on went for higher education to France, where he studied law, philosophy and sociology. He has taught in French universities besides working in Afghan parliament as an advisor.

8-Dr. Ferozuddin Feroz, Minister of Public Health Bank advisor.

9- Najiba Ayubi, Minister of Women’s Affairs, was born in Parwan province. She has degrees in journalism and literature. She has worked as head of Radio Killid in Kabul.

10-Barna Karimi, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, was born in 1974 in Kabul. He has a master’s degree in marketing from Phoenix University in California.  He has held many positions including deputy chief of staff of the president, and ambassador to Canada.

11- Nasir Ahmad Durrani, Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, has a development degree from the Nebraska University in the US, and engineering degree from the Kabul Polytechnic University. He has worked as deputy minister of mines.

12. Rahmatullah Nabil, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) chief, was born in 1970 in the Jaghatu district of Maidan Wardak province. He is a civil engineer, having served in several high-profile government positions since 2002. He joined the government as deputy national security advisor and served as head of Presidential Protection Service. In 2010, he was appointed as director-general of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and served for two years. Later, he was appointed as deputy national security advisor. Nabil has no political affiliation.

13. Sher Mohammad Karimi, Minister of Defence, is a son of Mullah Mohammad Karim and was born in 1946 in Khost province. He has studied in Britain. He is chief of army staff and has also served in many positions in Ministry of Defence.

14. Jilani Popal, Minister of Finance, is the son of Mohammad Azam and was born in 1957 in Kabul. He has a degree in law and political science from Kabul University. He has held several positions like deputy finance minister and Independent Directorate of Local Governance chief.

15. Abas Basir, Minister of Public Works, was born in 1951 in Ghazni province. He has a doctorate in environmental studies. He was former second vice-president’s chief of staff and university lecturer.

16. Mohammad Yaqoob Haidary, Minister of Agriculture, was born in Kabul and is 53 years old. He has a master’s in pedagogy.

17. Daud Shah Sabah, Minister of Mines, was born in 1964 in Herat province. He has a master’s in geology and has served as governor of Herat and advisor to the president.

18. Khatera Afghan, Minister of Higher Educations, was born in 1978 in Kandahar province. She has a master’s in management and governance.

19. Sadat Naderi, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, is a son of Syed Mansoor Naderi and was born in 1977 in Kabul. He is from Baghlan province. Naderi has a degree in economics and international business from North London University. He was a member of the central bank’s board directors and head of a private insurance company in Kabul.

20. Faiz Mohammad Osmani, Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs, was born in Kunduz province and is an ethnic Turkmen. He has a degree in Islamic studies. He has worked as university lecturer and presenter of Islamic programmes on Tolo TV.

21. Faizullah Kakar, Minister of Counter-narcotics, was born in Faryab province and is a Pashtun by origin. He has a master’s in toxicology and a doctorate in epidemiology. He has worked as deputy minister of public health and professor in various universities in Kabul and Washington.

22. Ai Sultan Khairy, Minister of Information and Culture, was born in 1965 in Balkh province. She is of Uzbek ethnicity and has a doctorate in Turkish literature. She has worked in the media and taught at the university level.

23. Qamaruddin Shinwary, Minister of Border and Tribal Affairs, was born in 1963 in Nangarhar province. He has a master’s in Islamic law. He has worked as deputy justice minister.

24. Sardar Mohammad Rahimi, Minister of Commerce and Industries, was born in 1978 in Uruzgan province and is of Hazara ethnicity. He has a doctorate in geo-politics from an Iranian university. He has taught in various universities and was a spokesman for the National Coalition.

25. Faizullah Zaki, Minister of Transport, was born in 1959 in Jawzjan province. He has a degree in geology. He has served as lawmaker and a spokesman for the Junbish-i-Milli party.

26. Shah Zaman Maiwandi, Minister of Urban Development, was born in Kandahar province in 1970. He has a master’s degree in economics.

27. Khalil Siddique, the Central Bank Governor, was born in 1950 in Logar province. He holds a degree in economics and has worked as chief executive of the Afghanistan International Bank.

Prof. Najib Aqa Fahim, minister-designate for justice:

Prof. Najib Aqa Fahim is the son of Mir Aqa. He was born in 1964 in central Kapisa province. Fahim received his bachelor degree in faculty of law and political science from Kabul University and master degree in international law.

Earlier, Fahim served as secretary to consul general in Iran, finance secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MoLSAMD), legal advisor at the Ministry of Interior (MoI), senior advisor at the Ministry of Counternarcotics and policy development head at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

Abdul Bari Jahani, minister-designate for information and cultural affairs:

Son of Abdul Ahmad, Jahani was born in Kandahar City, the provincial capital of southern Kandahar province, in 1972. He got his bachelor degree in literature from Kabul University.

After completion of his education, Jahani served as editor-in-chief of Kabul Magazine. He wrote more than 20 books on different issues.

Jahani worked at Voice of America Radio. He has the credit of writing the national anthem. 

 

hg/mud/nh/rm

Visits: 29