Hina Rabbani Khar facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Jinda Hina Rabbani Khar
حنا ربانی کھر
Khar in 2023

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
In office 19 April 2022 – 10 August 2023
Prime Minister	Shehbaz Sharif
Minister	Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Preceded by	Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan
In office 11 February 2011 – 19 July 2011
Prime Minister	Yusuf Raza Gillani
Preceded by	Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan
Succeeded by	Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 19 July 2011 – 16 March 2013
Prime Minister	Yusuf Raza Gillani Raja Pervez Ashraf
Preceded by	Shah Mehmood Qureshi
Succeeded by	Mir Hazar Khan Khoso (Acting) Sartaj Aziz (de facto)
Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs
In office 24 March 2008 – 11 February 2011
Prime Minister	Yusuf Raza Gillani
Preceded by	Ali Nazary
Succeeded by	Dost Muhammad Mazari
Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 February 2024
Constituency	Reserved seat for women
In office 13 August 2018 – 10 August 2023
Constituency	Reserved seat for women
In office 25 May 2013 – 25 May 2018
Constituency	Reserved seat for women
In office 17 March 2008 – 16 March 2013
Constituency	NA-177 (Muzaffargarh-II)
In office 16 November 2002 – 15 November 2007
Constituency	NA-177 (Muzaffargarh-II)

Personal details
Born	(1974-11-19) 19 November 1974 (age 50) Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
Political party	PPP (2008-present)
Other political affiliations	PML(Q) (2002-2008)
Spouse	Feroze Gulzar (m. 1999)
Children	3
Parent	Ghulam Noor Rabbani Khar (father)
Relatives	Ghulam Mustafa Khar (uncle) Aaminah Haq (cousin)
Alma mater	Lahore University of Management Sciences University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Hina Rabbani Khar (born 19 November 1974) is a Pakistani politician. She served as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from April 2022 to August 2023. Before that, she was the Foreign Minister of Pakistan starting in July 2011. She was the first woman to hold this important job. She was also a member of the National Assembly from August 2018 to August 2023.

Hina Rabbani Khar comes from an influential family in Muzaffargarh. She studied business at LUMS and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She started her political career in 2002 as a member of the national assembly. At that time, she was part of the PML-Q party. She became a junior minister, helping with economic policy under Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

In 2009, she joined the Pakistan Peoples Party and was re-elected. She then became the Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs. In the same year, she made history as the first woman to present Pakistan's national budget. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani appointed her as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan in July 2011. She held this role until just before the 2013 election. She has always supported stronger connections with India.

She is still a member of the Pakistan People's Party. She often gives speeches about foreign policy. As of 2019, she was a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. She held a special seat reserved for women.

Early Life and Education
- Her Schooling and University Years
Her Journey in Politics
Her Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Hina Rabbani Khar was born in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. She is part of the Khar clan. Her father, Ghulam Noor Rabbani Khar, was a powerful landlord and politician. He was also a member of the National Assembly. Her uncle, Ghulam Mustafa Khar, was a former Governor and Chief Minister of Punjab. Hina Rabbani Khar is married to Feroz Gulzar.

Her Schooling and University Years

Hina Rabbani Khar graduated from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in 1999. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Economics. Later, she studied at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. There, she received a Master of Science degree in Business Management in 2002.

She has kept in touch with LUMS since she graduated. In 2012, she gave a speech there about "Foreign Policy and Young Democracy." She also helped get money for the Abdus Salam Institute of Physics.

Her Journey in Politics

In the 2002 general elections, Hina Rabbani Khar was elected to the National Assembly. She represented the NA-177 (Muzaffargarh-II) area in Punjab. Her father had represented this area before. However, a new rule said that all candidates needed a university degree. This meant her father and many family members could not run that year. With her father's help, she campaigned for the PML-Q party.

Working in Finance and Economy

Hina Rabbani Khar became well-known during the government of Shaukat Aziz. In 2003, she was made Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Affairs and Statistics. The next year, she became the Minister of State for Economic Affairs. She kept this job until 2007. In this role, she helped manage money from international groups after the 2005 earthquake in Northern Pakistan. She also worked on plans for the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India pipeline.

In 2007, she tried to work with the PML-Q again, but they did not offer her a chance to run for re-election in 2008. After that, she joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). She successfully won her election for a second time. The PPP won many votes and formed a government with other parties.

Serving as Minister of State for Finance

After being re-elected in 2008, she became the Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs. This was part of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani's government. She worked on the country's financial budget and economic plans. On 13 June 2009, she successfully presented the 2010 federal budget to the Parliament. She was the first woman politician to present Pakistan's budget in the National Assembly. She also worked to reduce Pakistan's energy debt.

Becoming Foreign Minister

Khar with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Hina Rabbani Khar was appointed as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 11 February 2011. This meant she was the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prime Minister Gillani did not reappoint the previous Foreign Minister, so that position was empty. For five months, she was the acting Foreign Minister. Then, on 18 July, she was officially appointed as the Foreign Minister. She took her oath on 19 July, becoming the youngest and first female Foreign Minister. President Asif Ali Zardari said this appointment showed the government wanted women to be more involved in national life. She became Foreign Minister during a challenging time for Pakistan.

Soon after her appointment, Khar visited India. She held peace talks with her Indian counterpart, S. M. Krishna. Relations between the two countries had been difficult after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. They only started talking again in February 2011, five months before her visit. She also met with leaders of the Hurriyat Conference before meeting Indian government officials.

In August 2011, she visited China. She held talks with Yang Jiechi, the Chinese Foreign Minister.

During her time as Foreign Minister, there was an incident where a NATO strike killed Pakistani troops. Foreign Minister Khar said that Pakistan's government decided to stop NATO and ISAF forces from using Pakistan's supply routes. Pakistan continued to ask for an apology from the U.S. On 6 June 2012, Khar said that "higher principles should be more important than popular political ideas." She challenged the U.S. to "live up to its democratic ideals" by respecting Pakistan's elected leaders.

Hina Rabbani Khar at a Supreme Court of Pakistan Conference in 2013.

On 21 January 2012, Khar traveled to Moscow to make relations with Russia stronger. Pakistan's relationship with the U.S. was strained at the time. On this trip, she invited Russian leaders to visit Pakistan. She also spoke about working together and supporting efforts for peace in Afghanistan. On 12 August 2012, she spoke at a summit in Tehran. Khar said that peace in the region was at risk because of growing tensions about Iran's nuclear program. She believed a peaceful solution was still possible.

During her short visit to Bangladesh on 9 November 2012, she met with the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dipu Moni. They discussed issues between their countries. Khar encouraged both countries to move forward together.

In March 2013, the PPP government finished its five-year term. A temporary prime minister and cabinet took over until the next election. Khar was not part of this temporary government. This ended her two years as Foreign Minister. In April 2013, Khar announced she would not run in the next general election. This allowed her father, who was now allowed to run, to try for her seat. The rule requiring a university degree for candidates had been removed.

Her Impact as Foreign Minister

Khar at the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue Review in London.

Hina Rabbani Khar is known for being the youngest and first female Foreign Minister in Pakistan. She took on this role in July 2011. During her two years as Foreign Minister, she gained a lot of global attention. She was interviewed by famous news programs and newspapers. She was a high-ranking member of the Central Executive Committee of the Pakistan Peoples Party from 2008 until 2013. She is seen as one of the most important women in Pakistani politics.

After Being a Minister

After stepping down, Khar has been an active public speaker. In an interview in December 2015, she spoke about international relations. She has also written articles for Newsweek Pakistan. In June 2016, she spoke out against aggressive actions in the Kashmir region. At the Islamabad Literature Festival, she continued to support a closer relationship between India and Pakistan.

Returning to Politics in 2018

She was elected to a special seat for women in the National Assembly in the 2018 General Election. She was elected by the Pakistan People's Party. On 19 April 2022, she joined the Shehbaz Ministry. She took on the role of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Her Personal Life

Hina Rabbani Khar is married to Feroze Gulzar. They have three children: a son named Ahmed, and two daughters named Annaya and Dina.

Khar is also a co-owner of a restaurant called "Polo Lounge." The first restaurant opened in Lahore in 2002. A second Polo Lounge later opened in Islamabad's Saidpur Village.