The 2010 federal budget of Pakistan was presented by Hina Rabbani Khar on 13 June 2009, marking the first time a woman delivered the national budget in the country's National Assembly. This milestone highlighted her rapid ascent within the Pakistan Peoples Party, transitioning from economic policy roles to the most senior levels of national diplomacy.
Early Background and Education
Born on 19 November 1977 in Multan, she belongs to the Khar clan of the Kharal tribe. Her father, Ghulam Noor Rabbani Khar, was a prominent feudal landlord and politician. She graduated with a BSc in Economics from the Lahore University of Management Sciences in 1999. In 2002, she completed an MSc in Business Management at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
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Entering politics in 2002, she won a seat in the National Assembly representing the PML-Q. She served as Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Affairs and Statistics starting in 2003, followed by a tenure as Minister of State for Economic Affairs until 2007. After joining the Pakistan Peoples Party, she served as Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, where she addressed circular debt in the energy sector and managed international relief efforts following the 2005 earthquake.
Foreign Ministry and International Diplomacy
In February 2011, she became Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, eventually serving as the first female and youngest Foreign Minister of Pakistan from July 2011 to March 2013. Her tenure included high-stakes diplomatic engagement, notably peace talks with Indian counterpart S. M. Krishna and managing tensions following the 2011 NATO strike. She later returned to the federal government as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 2022 to 2023.
Fast facts
- Born: 19 November 1977, Multan
- Education: Lahore University of Management Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Political Party: Pakistan Peoples Party
- Foreign Minister Tenure: 2011-2013
- First female to present the Pakistani national budget
- Member of the 15th National Assembly: 2018
- Religion: Islam
- Language: Urdu
Questions readers ask
Was she the first woman to hold the post of Foreign Minister in Pakistan?
Yes, she was the first and remains the only woman to have held the position of Foreign Minister of Pakistan.
Which constituency did she first represent in the National Assembly?
She represented the NA-177 (Muzaffargarh-II) constituency in Punjab starting in 2002.
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