Dehlavi Takes Over from Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan as Board Chairman

After 16 years of exemplary leadership of the Board of Trustees, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan, stepped down as Chairman of the Board, in accordance with his wishes and with the approval of the Chancellor, His Highness the Aga Khan.

At a banquet in his honour, hosted by the Chancellor, on the occasion of the meetings of the Board of Trustees in Paris in July 2001, the Chancellor recalled the vital role Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan played in steering the University through its early days, overcoming numerous challenges with his exceptional qualities of leadership and diplomacy. AKU today is known nationally and internationally for the quality of its teaching, research and service. Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan said that it was an altogether fulfilling experience of supporting the important objective of human resource development in Pakistan and the region. While announcing Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan's retirement, the Chancellor was pleased to communicate the appointment  of  Saidullah Khan

Dehlavi as the new Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The Chancellor said the new Chairman would bring the leadership needed to carry out the objectives of the University as it expands programmatically and geographically.

Dehlavi, who served as a Trustee of the University during the past year, holds an MA degree in philosophy, politics and  economics from Oxford University, and is a member of Lincoln's Inn, London. As a senior member of the Pakistan Foreign Service, which he joined in 1964, he recently retired as Ambassador of Pakistan to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Communities. Earlier, he had served as Ambassador to France and Ireland, as well as Switzerland, the Vatican, Yugoslavia and Albania. During his posting in Paris, he was also the Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. Dehlavi is fluent in French, Italian, Turkish, English and Urdu, and the recipient of several international decorations and honours.