Ex-SBP gov Shamshad dies at 71
Former State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor Dr Shamshad Akhtar on Saturday passed away at the age of 71 due to cardiac arrest.
Akhtar was serving as chairperson of the Pakistan Stock Exchange at the time of her death, giving her a rare role spanning the country's monetary policy, fiscal management and capital markets.
She served as the 14th SBP governor from 2006 to 2009 and later assumed the role of caretaker finance minister during the interim governments formed ahead of the 2018 and 2024 general elections.
Born in Hyderabad, Akhtar received her early education in Karachi and Islamabad and was known for her strong academic background.
She graduated with a BA in Economics from the University of Punjab in 1974 and later earned an MSc in Economics from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. She went on to obtain an MA in Development Economics from the University of Sussex in 1977 and a PhD in Economics from the UK's Paisley College of Technology in 1980.
Akhtar was also a Fulbright postdoctoral fellow and served as a visiting fellow at Harvard University's Department of Economics in 1987.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed profound grief over the passing of former State Bank of Pakistan governor Shamshad Akhtar, paying tribute to her lifelong commitment to public service and her role in strengthening economic governance and financial management in the country.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of Dr Shamshad Akhtar and extended condolences to the bereaved family.
In his message, he prayed Allah Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant patience to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. He said Dr Shamshad Akhtar rendered invaluable services to Pakistan in the field of economics.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Shamshad Akhtar.