Ex-finance minister Sartaj Aziz passes away

LAHORE: Former Finance Minister Sartaj Aziz died on Tuesday.

PMLN leader Ahsan Iqbal confirmed his death by tweeting. He said that Sartaj Aziz was a worker of the Pakistan movement, a great asset to the nation and his services to the nation would always be remembered. He said that he had the privilege of working with him and “I will never forget his love and guidance”.

Sartaj Aziz was born on February 7, 1929 in Nowshera, he participated in the Pakistan movement, joined the Civil Service in 1950. He did his Masters in Economics from Harvard University. He was also Joint Secretary of the Planning Commission. He had been a member of the Senate from 1985 to 1999.

Meanwhile, President Arif Alvi offered condolences over the death and prayed for peace to the departed soul and courage to the family to bear the loss. Former prime minister and PMLN President Shehbaz Sharif also expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise. “The passing away of Sartaj Aziz brings immense sadness and sorrow to our hearts. He was not just a close and trusted companion to Nawaz Sharif but remained dedicated to the party, leadership, and ideology throughout his life.”

He rendered exemplary services in the fields of finance and economy, contributing significantly to treasury and economic dimensions. His dedication and honesty were evident in various governance areas, including FATA reforms, economic policies, agricultural strategies, and water policies, Shehbaz said. Sartaj Aziz’s contributions ushered the nation’s economy into new dimensions, providing stability and relief to the people. In the areas entrusted to him, he served the nation with sincerity and hard work. Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has also expressed grief over the death.