Former foreign secretary Najmuddin Shaikh passes away
Former Foreign Secretary and seasoned diplomat Najmuddin A Shaikh passed away peacefully at his home early Friday morning in Karachi, his family announced.
“It is with the most profound sorrow that we announce former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador Najmuddin A Shaikh passed away peacefully in his home early Friday morning in Karachi,” the family stated in a statement sent to The Express Tribune.
Funeral prayers for Shaikh will be held on March 28, after Asr prayers at 5:15 PM at the Phase VIII Graveyard DHA, Karachi.
Shaikh, who served as Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary from 1994 to 1997, was a highly regarded diplomat. Originally from Sindh, he joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1961 after graduating from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1962. Over his 38-year career, he held key diplomatic assignments, including ambassadorial roles in Canada (1987–1989), West Germany (1989–1990), the United States (1990–1991), and Iran (1992–1994). He was succeeded as Foreign Secretary by Shamshad Ahmad.
Beyond his foreign service, he was Pakistan’s special envoy to Yemen, Sudan, Kenya, and Bahrain in 2005. He also served as a board member at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, and was senior vice president of the Karachi Council of Foreign Relations.
Shaikh is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Raana Shaikh, a former Managing Director of Pakistan Television and Secretary for the Ministry of Culture. He leaves behind two children, Nadir Shaikh, a partner at financial advisory Qatalyst Partners LLP, and Nermeen Shaikh, a broadcast news producer and weekly co-host at Democracy Now! He is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Sobia Shaikh, and two grandchildren, Isaad and Lyali Shaikh.
His siblings include Waheeda Noorul Hasan, Sirajuddin Shaikh (formerly of Sui Southern Gas Company), Air Marshal (Retd) Riazuddin Shaikh, Dr. Ajazuddin Shaikh, Dr. Rafat Arain, and Dr. Fareeduddin Shaikh.
Reflecting on his legacy, his niece Erum Shaikh, Business Desk Head at The Express Tribune, described him as “a treasure trove of knowledge and a distinguished diplomat who served Pakistan with unwavering dedication,” adding that, “Conversations with him were not just exchanges of words, but journeys through history, culture, and human understanding. We were lucky to have him and he will be missed dearly.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs paid tribute, stating, “As Foreign Secretary, Shaikh brought visionary leadership to the role, shaping foreign policy with strategic foresight and mentoring generations of diplomats who followed in his footsteps.”
Renowned for his diplomatic acumen, he was remembered as “a steadfast advocate for international cooperation, regional stability, and human rights.”
Condolences poured in from colleagues, friends, and officials. Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sherry Rehman wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Grieved at the passing of former foreign secretary Najmuddin Shaikh. He was a veteran diplomat who kept serving Pakistan with the highest integrity well after his retirement. He will be sorely missed.”
Former Permanent Representative to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, called him “a solid professional and good human being,” while former Ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, described him as “an honorable and capable diplomat who served Pakistan in difficult capitals and tough circumstances.”
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Khurram Dastagir lamented the loss of “a dwindling breed of diplomats interested deeply in the world & with the ability to analyse global events.”
Shaikh’s family has requested prayers in his memory, stating, “We ask all to offer Surah-e-Fatiha to ease his passage to a more tranquil world.”