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Honorary Doctor of Education, 2010
Bio | Citation

Umar Khan Alisherzai is the Ambassador of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who oversees the interests of the one and a half-million strong Pakistani community who live and work there.

He is passionate about building a democratic Pakistan, his aim is not only to improve its economic fortunes via improvements in international relations, but also to improve health, welfare and education options.

Born in 1948, Umar Khan belongs to the tribal areas of Pakistan, one of the most remote areas of the country, where not many children used to have the opportunity of school education or when they did get a chance, very few were able to continue to their secondary education.

Having completed his formal schooling, he moved to Peshawar where he completed his higher education with an MA in Economics from the University of Peshawar.

He joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in December 1976 and besides working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in pivotal appointments at home, including Director General of Policy Planning, he has held several diplomatic appointments overseas in Afghanistan, Qatar, UAE and now in Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy excellent relations. The two-way trade between the two countries has witnessed sharp increases. It was in 2009, that he was appointed Ambassador of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Since his arrival, he has implemented a number of initiatives to upgrade the standard of education of the Pakistan International School in Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar, Al-Hassa and Qaseem (Burdaidah). In addition, he has also obtained permission from the Saudi government for the opening of new schools in Tabuk, Jajran, Al Baha and Abha regions.

Umar Khan Alisherzai is a great supporter of Education, even working with the Taliban to persuade leaders in Afghanistan to open schools for girls under the strict regime. Working closely with Anglia Ruskin University on initiatives surrounding higher education, he is keen to see young men and women from Pakistan go abroad to destinations for higher education study to increase their potential to make a valuable economic and social contribution to their communities.

Areas Of Interest: International
Faculty: Health, Social Care & Education
Citation:

"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for His Excellency Umar Khan Alisherzai for the award of Honorary Doctor of Education.

Umar Khan Alisherzai is the Ambassador of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who oversees the interests of the one and a half-million strong Pakistani community who live and work there.

He is passionate about building a democratic Pakistan, his aim is not only to improve its economic fortunes via improvements in international relations, but also to improve health, welfare and education options.

Born in 1948, Umar Khan belongs to the tribal areas of Pakistan, one of the most remote areas of the country, where not many children used to have the opportunity of school education or when they did get a chance, very few were able to continue to their secondary education.

He started his schooling in 1954. His determination to get to school meant that he used to walk five miles each way daily from his home to his primary and secondary schools, all alone, on foot, with hardly any roads, using mountain tracks at times through the jungles. Not only was the journey difficult but his family also had to live with threats from hard liners within the tribal communities who wanted to stop him from being educated.

Fortunately his determination meant that he continued his efforts against all odds and today his devotion and commitment to education right from his childhood has provided a role model which encouraged his friends, colleagues and children from his tribe to pursue education. He finally persuaded the people of his tribe to open a Boys' School in his village, the first of its kind, allowing young boys aged between 6 and 18 to pursue their education. Today, there are 40 schools in his village and in the adjacent areas.

Having completed his formal schooling, he moved to Peshawar where he completed his higher education with an MA in Economics from the University of Peshawar.

He joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in December 1976 and besides working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in pivotal appointments at home, including Director General of Policy Planning, he has held several diplomatic appointments overseas in Afghanistan, Qatar, UAE and now in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy excellent relations. The two-way trade between the two countries has witnessed sharp increases. It was in 2009, that he was appointed Ambassador of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a position he has taken on with boundless energy and new determination. His position is pivotal to peace and progress. He is working towards a safer and more prosperous future for all Pakistani citizens wherever they reside.

Pakistan came into existence over 60 years ago and has since endeavoured to strengthen its separate identity and culture. It is the mission of Umar Khan Alisherzai to encourage Pakistani people to work towards making Pakistan a vibrant, enlightened, tolerant and progressive welfare state. He praises the progress made by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to end dictatorship and move to dynamic new leadership as a frontline state against the war on terror.

He believes that education will bring positive change and opportunity to all.

As Ambassador of Pakistan, since his arrival in Saudi Arabia, he has implemented a number of initiatives to upgrade the standard of education of the Pakistan International School in Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar, Al-Hassa and Qaseem (Burdaidah).

In addition, he has also obtained permission from the Saudi government for the opening of new schools in Tabuk, Jajran, Al Baha and Abha regions.

Umar Khan Alisherzai is a great supporter of Education, even working with the Taliban to persuade leaders in Afghanistan to open schools for girls under the strict regime. Working closely with Anglia Ruskin University on initiatives surrounding higher education, he is keen to see young men and women from Pakistan go abroad to destinations for higher education study to increase their potential to make a valuable economic and social contribution to their communities. He has recently appointed an education adviser to work with him to facilitate this. Students from Pakistan's schools in Saudi Arabia are already travelling to the UK in groups to find out more about study options. Anglia Ruskin University congratulates His Excellency as a champion of democratic education.

Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Umar Khan Alisherzai for the award of Doctor of Education, honoris causa."

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The 2013 Graduation Ceremony dates can be found here

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