NEW YORK, June 28, 2016 — Shaukat Aziz, the former prime minister of Pakistan, appeared at Asia Society in New York on Tuesday to discuss his journey from banking to politics. Aziz appeared in conversation with Josette Sheeran, Asia Society's president and CEO. (1 hr., 30 min.)

Asia Society is honored to host a conversation between Pakistan’s Former Prime Minister and international banker Shaukat Aziz and Asia Society President and CEO Josette Sheeran. Mr. Aziz has co-authored a new book titled From Banking to the Thorny World of Politicswith Sunday Times journalist Anna Mikhailova. The book offers an analysis of the intricate relationships between Pakistan and the U.S., India, Afghanistan and China, and provides an insider’s account of Mr. Aziz’s controversial decision to join General Pervez Musharraf’s military government in 1999. He has also served as Pakistan’s Finance Minister and is an Honorary Counselor of the Asia Society Policy Institute.

During his tenure, Mr. Aziz steered one of the biggest economic turnarounds in recent history, rescuing Pakistan from bankruptcy. In 2004, Mr. Aziz survived an assassination attempt by an Al-Qaeda suicide bomber as he was leaving after an election rally at Fateh Jang, a small town in Punjab Province. Eight others, including Mr. Aziz’s chauffer, were killed in the attack. Prior to serving in government. Mr. Aziz built a 30-year career in Citibank as a senior executive and the President of Citi Private Bank in New York.

Speakers

Josette Sheeran is the seventh president and CEO of Asia Society. In the position, which she assumed in June 2013, she is responsible for leading and advancing the organization's work throughout the U.S. and Asia, and across its disciplines of arts and culture, policy and business, and education. She is former Vice Chair of the World Economic Forum, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, Undersecretary at the US Department of State, and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative.

Shaukat Aziz served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2004 to 2007 and Finance Minister in 1999. Prior to government, he assumed various leadership positions in Citibank, building an impressive career in global finance with roles in Pakistan, Greece, United States, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Philippines, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. Mr. Aziz graduated from Gordon College Rawalpindi in 1967 and earned an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration, University of Karachi in 1969.