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Naveed Qamar

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Naveed Qamar
Naveed Qamar in 2012
Federal Minister of Commerce
In office
19 April 2022 – 10 August 2023
Chairman Standing Committee on Ministry of Railways (Pakistan)
In office
2013–2018
Ministry of Defence (Pakistan)
In office
4 June 2012 – 16 March 2013
PresidentAsif Ali Zardari
Prime MinisterYusuf Raza Gillani
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf
Preceded byAhmad Mukhtar
Succeeded byMir Hazar Khan Khoso (Caretaker)
Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division)
In office
7 August 2009 – 11 February 2011
PresidentAsif Ali Zardari
Prime MinisterYusuf Raza Gillani
Ministry of Privatisation (Pakistan)
In office
31 March 2008 – 14 December 2009
PresidentAsif Ali Zardari
Prime MinisterYusuf Raza Gillani
In office
28 October 1996 – 5 November 1996
Prime MinisterBenazir Bhutto
Ministry of Maritime Affairs (Pakistan)
In office
8 October 2008 – 3 November 2008
In office
31 March 2008 – 14 May 2008
PresidentAsif Ali Zardari
Prime MinisterYusuf Raza Gillani
Ministry of Industries and Production (Pakistan)
In office
11 April 2008 – 7 October 2008
PresidentAsif Ali Zardari
Prime MinisterYusuf Raza Gillani
Ministry of Finance and Revenue
In office
15 May 2008 – 8 October 2008
Acting: 15 May 2008 – 13 September 2008
Prime MinisterYusuf Raza Gillani
Preceded byIshaq Dar
Succeeded byShaukat Tarin
In office
28 October 1996 – 5 November 1996
Prime MinisterBenazir Bhutto
Preceded byMakhdoom Shahabuddin (Acting)
Succeeded byShahid Javed Burki (Acting)
Provincial Minister of Sindh for Information
In office
19 November 1988 – 6 August 1990
Chairman Standing Committee on Ministry of Commerce (Pakistan)
In office
April 2022 – August 2023
Personal details
Born (1955-09-22) 22 September 1955 (age 69)[1][2]
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Political partyPPP (1988-present)
RelationsMiran Mohammad Shah (grandfather)
Parent
Alma materUniversity of Manchester
Northrop University
California State University, Los Angeles

Syed Naveed Qamar (Urdu: سید نوید قمر; born 22 September 1955) is a Pakistani politician who has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since February 2024, and previously served in this position from August 2018 till August 2023 and between 1990 and May 2018. He served as Minister for Defence and Minister for Finance between 2008 and 2013.

He served as Federal Minister of commerce from April 2022 to August 2023.

Early life and education

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Qamar was born in Karachi, Sindh on 22 September 1955 to the former Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Qamar-uz-Zaman Shah.[3][2][1][4] His grandfather Miran Mohammad Shah was also a prominent political figure, being a Pakistan Movement activist and a contemporary of Allama Iqbal; he later served as the first Speaker of the Sindh Assembly.[5]

Qamar received his B.Sc (Hons) degree in Computer Science from Manchester University in 1976. He did his MS in Management from Northrop University in 1978 and received his MBA degree from California State University in 1979.[1][4]

Qamar is married and has three daughters and a son.[4]

Academic career

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For a short time, in 1988-89, Qamar served as part of Computer Science faculty at National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES), then called FAST. He taught the BASIC languages to the first batch of students at FAST.[6]

Political career

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Early political career (1988–1990)

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Qamar began his political career by electing to the Provincial Assembly of Sindh in the 1988 Pakistani general election on Pakistan Peoples Party's platform from PS-37 Hyderabad, where he served from 19 November 1988 till 6 August 1990. He held the portfolio as Provincial Minister of Sindh for Information.[1][4][7]

Entry to National Assembly and privatization portfolio (1990–1997)

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He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan in the 1990 Pakistani general election on PPP ticket.[8][1][4][9][10][11]

He was re-elected to the National Assembly in the 1993 Pakistani general election on PPP ticket[8] and became chairman of the Privatisation Commission of Pakistan.[1][4][12]

He was re-elected to the National Assembly in the 1997 Pakistani general election on PPP ticket[8] and was appointed as the Federal Minister for Finance and Privatisation.[1][4][12]

Continued legislative roles (2002–2008)

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He was re-elected to the National Assembly in the 2002 Pakistani general election on PPP ticket from NA-222.[8][1][4][13]

Cabinet appointments in PPP government (2008–2013)

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He was re-elected to the National Assembly in the 2008 Pakistani general election from NA-222 constituency on PPP ticket[8][1][4] and was made Federal Minister for Privatisation[14] with the additional portfolio of Port and Shipping.[15][16] He also briefly held the portfolio of Federal Minister for Finance for five months in 2008.[1]

In August 2009, he was made Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources with additional charge of Minister for Privatisation.[1] He was removed from the post of Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources[17] and was given portfolio of Ministry of Water and Power in March 2011.[18][19][1] In 2011, he was made Federal Minister for Defence.[1][20]

Parliamentary leadership and 2017 PM nomination (2013–2018)

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He was re-elected to the National Assembly from NA-222 constituency on PPP ticket in the 2013 Pakistani general election.[21][22] He served as the Chairman Standing Committee on Railways from 2013 till 2018. In 2016, he was made Parliamentary Leader of PPP in the National Assembly, where he served until 2018.[7]

After Nawaz Sharif resigned as Prime Minister of Pakistan in July 2017, Qamar was nominated by PPP as the party's candidate for the office of Prime Minister. He secured 47 votes by the National Assembly members against his PML (N) candidate Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who secured 221 votes.[23]

Return to parliament and commerce leadership (2018–2023)

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He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PPP from NA-228 (Tando Muhammad Khan) in the 2018 Pakistani general election.[24] He is serving as the Chairman Standing Committee on Commerce from September 2018.

He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PPP from NA-221 Tando Muhammad Khan in the 2024 Pakistani general election. He received 111,738 votes and defeated Muhammad Irfan, an independent candidate supported by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).[25]

Engagement with Silicon Valley and technology initiatives (2022–present)

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He was appointed Federal Minister for Commerce and Investment during the first Shehbaz Sharif government on 19 April 2022 and served in this capacity until 10 August 2023.[26]

In his capacity as Federal Minister for Commerce and Investment, Qamar had actively promoted partnerships between Pakistan and the global tech ecosystem, particularly focusing on Silicon Valley. On 26 January 2023, he addressed the USAID‑organized “Accelerating Silicon Valley Technology Investment in Pakistan” conference, emphasising the potential of Silicon Valley–based Pakistani diaspora to contribute to Pakistan’s digital economy and the importance of strengthening academia–industry collaboration in information technology, data science, and startup incubation.[27][28]

In June 2025, as Special Assistant to the Sindh Chief Minister on Investment, Qamar played a key role in establishing the province’s first “Silicon Valley–style Special Technology Zone” in Karachi Education City, Sindh. The 500-acre initiative, backed by Pakistan’s Special Technology Zone Authority, aims to foster a high-tech ecosystem centered on smart manufacturing, cybersecurity, health tech, agri-tech, blockchain, 5G, and clean energy, furthering efforts to integrate local academia with industry.[29][30][31]

Other activities

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Think-tank involvement

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Qamar has been actively engaged in policy research and parliamentary capacity building through his involvement with various think-tanks and research institutions. He has served on the Board of Governors of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), a prominent Pakistani policy research organization focused on sustainable development and public policy reforms. Additionally, he has been a member of the Board of the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), an organization dedicated to supporting legislators through research, training, and institutional strengthening.[5]

Publications

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Qamar has contributed to various national and international seminars and has authored or presented papers on governance, legislative transparency, and regional cooperation.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Syed Naveed Qamar". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ a b "If elections are held on time…". www.thenews.com.pk. 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Detail Information". 19 April 2014. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Profile Page". PILDAT. 14 October 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ a b c "Brief Profile: Syed Naveed Qamar" (PDF). Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan. July 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Syed Naveed Qamar". Pakistan Travel & Culture. 4 February 2009. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024.
  7. ^ a b Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (31 July 2016). "Naveed Qamar named PPP's parliamentary leader in NA". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e Khan, Mohammad Hussain (11 May 2013). "PPP will have to sweat to clinch wins in stronghold T.M. Khan". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  9. ^ Khan, Mohammad Hussain (10 May 2013). "Bittersweet tales from Tando Mohammad Khan". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Six Pakistani PMs, two presidents won the rigged 1990 polls". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Naveed, Dr Azra potential candidates for slot". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  12. ^ a b "New finance minister will have tough job". www.thenews.com.pk. 17 March 2008. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  13. ^ Report, Dawn (12 October 2002). "HYDERABAD: PPP grabs majority NA seats in Sindh: MQM suffers setback in Hyderabad". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Five new portfolios created, seven cabinet slots vacant". DAWN.COM. 5 November 2008. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  15. ^ "PC board reconstituted". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  16. ^ "24-strong cabinet takes oath". The News. 31 March 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  17. ^ Newspaper, the (12 February 2011). "Some heavyweights left out of 22-member new cabinet". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  18. ^ "PM assigns additional charges to eight federal ministers". DAWN.COM. 5 March 2011. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  19. ^ Newspaper, the (6 March 2011). "Ministers get more portfolios; cabinet expansion put off". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  20. ^ "Cabinet reshuffle: Portfolios swapped for Mukhtar and Qamar". DAWN.COM. 2 June 2012. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  21. ^ Newspaper, the (14 May 2013). "National Assembly seats from Sindh". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  22. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (13 May 2013). "Announced results show PPP wins five NA, 21 PA seats in Sindh". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  23. ^ Fahad Chaudhry, Dawn.com (1 August 2017). "Shahid Khaqan Abbasi sworn in as prime minister of Pakistan". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  24. ^ "Election results: Imran Khan's PTI on top". Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  25. ^ "Election Commission of Pakistan". ecp.gov.pk. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Federal Minister of Commerce". National Assembly of Pakistan. 19 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Data protection bill to strengthen IT sector: Qamar". Dawn. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  28. ^ "Investment in technology imperative for achieving prosperity, says Naveed Qamar". Dunya News. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  29. ^ "Sindh to establish first Silicon Valley-style tech zone in Karachi". Business Recorder. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  30. ^ "Sindh to establish first Silicon Valley-style tech zone in Karachi". Daily Times. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  31. ^ "Special Technology Zone to be set up on 500 acres in education city". The Nation. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Finance
1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Finance
2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Defence
2012–2013 		Succeeded by
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