Memoir: Habibullah Paracha’s journey across the Silk Road and beyond

Paracha was the vice-chairperson of the Karachi Municipal Corporation during Ayub Khan's era


Our Correspondent September 01, 2015
PHOTO: fb.com/KhanBahadurHafizMohammadHabibullahParacha

KARACHI: A book on the journey of Habibullah Paracha's life, written by none other than Nazli Rafat Jamal, Paracha's granddaughter, was launched on Sunday. The book is titled 'Paracha - HM Habibullah's journey across the Silk Road and beyond.'

Born in a small family of traders in Mukhad village in 1897, Paracha only received education till class four, had no personal wealth and went on to become the vice-chairperson of the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) during Ayub Khan's era (which was equivalent to the position of mayor at the time).

Paying tribute to Paracha at the book launch, former federal minister for information and broadcast, Javed Jabbar, said that Paracha possessed all the qualities of a good citizen, which he represented around the world. "He migrated from the other part of Asia [British India], and came to this part [Pakistan] which was associated with migrants and encroachers," he said. Jabbar added that he was a pure Punjabi, which was still evident by his last name, but he transcended his ethnicity and served this part of the country.

The author talked about her grandfather's inspiring personality and his life. "The tale of his life has so much to offer to people," said Jamal. She added that she did her job as a writer and now it was up to the readers to learn from his life. Jamal further said she wrote the book because she believed her grandfather's life was not an ordinary one. "The best part about his life was that he was entirely a self-made person."



Highlighting some important aspects of her grandfather's life, Jamal said that his rise on the political horizon and association with the then president, Ayub Khan, put him in conflict with the West Pakistan governor, the Nawab of Kalabagh, who was considered the most powerful man in the country at that time.

The author said that as the vice-chairperson of KMC, Paracha received and hosted dignitaries from across the world including Queen Elizabeth ll, Jacqueline Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Lee Kuan Yew, Gamal Abdel Nasser and Crown Prince Akihito. He established the Paracha Textile Mills Limited and was also awarded the title of 'Khan Bahadur' as a reward for his public services. Jamal said that Paracha also had the opportunity to personally deliver the Ghilaf-e-Kaaba to Makkah, which was made in Pakistan, and represented Pakistan at the washing ceremony of the Kaaba, performed by King Saud Ibn Abdul Aziz. He was also appointed as Pakistan's ambassador to Malaysia by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The book launch was attended by National Assembly member Arif Alvi, writer Hamida Khuhro, and Japanese council of cultural affairs members. Jamal said she took her family's help while writing the book and added, "This book is not my struggle and is dedicated to my family, because everyone from my family helped me a lot while writing this book."

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2015. 

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