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{{short description|Pakistani politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Rana Afzal Khan
| office = [[Ministry of Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs|Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs]]
| office1 = Member of the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]]
| office2 = Member of the [[Provincial Assembly of Punjab]]
| party = [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]]
| predecessor = [[Ishaq Dar]] (Minister)
| primeminister = [[Shahid Khaqan Abbasi]]
| rank = [[File:OF-2 Pakistan Army.svg|10px]] [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]]
| serviceyears = 1971–1976
| spouse = Dr. Najma Afzal Khan
| termstart = 26 December 2017
| termend = 31 May 2018
| termstart1 = 1 June 2013
| termend1 = 31 May 2018
| termstart2 = 1997
| termend2 = 2008
| alma_mater = [[NED University of Engineering and Technology]] <br />[[University of Balochistan]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1949|2|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Faisalabad]], [[Punjab, Pakistan]]
| branch = {{army|PAK}}
| children = 4
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|09|27|1949|2|22|df=y}}
| constituency1 = [[Constituency NA-82|NA-82 (Faisalabad)]]
| image = Rana Afzal Khan in 2013.jpg
| successor = [[Shamshad Akhtar]] (Caretaker)
| death_place = Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
}}

'''Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan''' ({{Lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|رانا محمد افضل خان}}}}; 22 February 1949 – 27 September 2019)<ref>[https://www.samaa.tv/news/politics/2019/09/pml-n-leader-rana-afzal-passes-away-in-faisalabad/ PML-N leader Rana Afzal passes away in Faisalabad] Samaa TV News website, Published 27 September 2019, Retrieved 19 August 2021</ref> was a [[Pakistani]] politician, businessman and Army officer who served as leader of PML-N, and [[Ministry of Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs|Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs]] in the [[Abbasi cabinet]] from December 2017 to May 2018. He was a member of the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]], from June 2013 to May 2018, where he was the Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, Revenue and Privatisation. Previously, he was a Member of the [[Provincial Assembly of Punjab]] from 1997 to 1999 and again from 2008 to 2013.

He was the founder of Saahil Limited, a family run corporation involved in health, schools and manufacturing. His sons had been managing operations of the company while Rana Afzal Khan held elected office.

==Early life and education==
Khan was born on 22 February 1949 in Faisalabad to Major Fazal Muhammad Khan.<ref name="profile/pap">{{cite web|title=Profile|url=http://www.pap.gov.pk/index.php/members/profile/en/19/519|website=www.pap.gov.pk|publisher=Provincial Assembly of Punab|accessdate=22 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="nation/22dec2017">{{cite news|title=PM approves appointment of Rana Afzal as finance minister|url=https://nation.com.pk/22-Dec-2017/pm-approves-appointment-of-rana-afzal-as-finance-minister|accessdate=21 August 2021|newspaper=The Nation (newspaper)|date=22 December 2017}}</ref>

He received his early education from [[Dhaka]], [[East Pakistan]].<ref name="dawn/23dec2017">{{cite news|last1=Ali|first1=Kalbe|title=Afzal set to become state minister for finance|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1378348/afzal-set-to-become-state-minister-for-finance|accessdate=19 August 2021|newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)|date=23 December 2017}}</ref>

Khan received B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the [[NED University of Engineering and Technology]] in 1971 and completed MA in Political Science from the [[University of Balochistan]].<ref name="profile/pap" /><ref name="nation/22dec2017" />

While in college, Khan decided that he would divide his life into 3 sections. First, he would serve his country in the army. Then, he would enter business and establish a Company. Finally, he would serve his country once more, as a politician.

== Military and Early Political Career ==
Khan served in the Pakistan Army as a captain from 1971 to 1976.<ref name="dawn/22dec2017" /><ref name="nation/22dec2017" />

At the Start of his Career, Khan was an electrical engineer.

Prior to starting political career, Khan served in the executive committee of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and as vice chairman of [[Water and Sanitation Agency]].<ref name="dawn/22dec2017" />

==Business career==
Khan was invited to join PML-N following his successful Business career in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. He was a Vice President of a British-American company in Saudi Arabia, before returning to Pakistan.

In Pakistan, he founded and Chaired the Saahil Group, a Company which expanded into the Manufacturing, Real Estate, Education and Health Industries through its subsidiaries, run in part by his sons, Inaam and Ihsaan. Saahil Group also operates Saahil Hospital, a Medical Facility in the city of Faisalabad.

== Punjab Political Career ==
Khan was elected to the [[Provincial Assembly of Punjab]] as a candidate of [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]] (PML-N) from Constituency PP-55 (Faisalabad) in [[1997 Pakistani general election]].<ref name="dawn/22dec2017">{{cite news|last1=Khan|first1=Sanaullah|title=PML-N's Rana Afzal approved as new state minister for finance by PM Abbasi|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1378196/pml-ns-rana-afzal-approved-as-new-state-minister-for-finance-by-pm-abbasi|accessdate=21 August 2021|newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)|date=22 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Previous Assemblies|url=http://www.pap.gov.pk/uploads/previous_members/L-1997-1999.shtml|website=www.pap.gov.pk|accessdate=22 December 2017}}</ref> He received 32,402 votes and defeated Raja Riaz Ahmad, a candidate of [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] (PPP).<ref>{{cite web|title=Punjab Assembly election result 1988–97|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/Results%201988%20-%201997/Punjab.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of Pakistan website|accessdate=21 August 2021}}</ref>

Khan ran for the seat of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab as a candidate of PML-N from [[Constituency PP-66 (Faisalabad-XVI)]] in [[2002 Pakistani general election]] but was unsuccessful. He received 17,779 votes and lost the seat to Riaz Shahid, a candidate of PPP.<ref>{{cite web|title=2002 election result|url=https://www.ecp.gov.pk/ge/ge2002vol2.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of Pakistan website|accessdate=21 August 2021|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126141507/https://www.ecp.gov.pk/ge/ge2002vol2.pdf|archivedate=26 January 2018}}</ref>

While Pervez Musharraf was in charge, Khan was one of approximately 50 elected officials of PML-N who remained in power without resigning or converting parties.

Khan was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of Punjab as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency PP-66 (Faisalabad-XVI) in [[2008 Pakistani general election]].<ref name="dawn/22dec2017" /> He received 34,487 votes and defeated Riaz Shahid, a candidate of PPP.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 election result|url=https://www.ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202008/Report,%20General%20Election%202008,%20Vol-II.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of Pakistan website|accessdate=21 August 2021|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105060230/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202008/Report,%20General%20Election%202008,%20Vol-II.pdf|archivedate=5 January 2018}}</ref>

== National Political Career ==
He was elected to the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]] as a candidate of PML-N from [[Constituency NA-82|Constituency NA-82 (Faisalabad-VIII)]] in [[2013 Pakistani general election]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Rana Afzal to take oath as state minister for finance in coming week|url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/420260-Rana-Afzal-take-oath-state-minister-finance-next-week|accessdate=21 August 2021|work=Dunya TV News website|date=22 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="pakistantoday/22dec2017" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Final list of candidates in Faisalabad|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/427225-final-list-of-candidates-in-faisalabad|date=30 April 2013|newspaper=The News International (newspaper)|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305195407/https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/427225-final-list-of-candidates-in-faisalabad|archivedate=5 March 2017 |access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=138 MNAs either paid no income tax, or FBR has no such data|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/631317-138-mnas-either-paid-no-income-tax,-or-fbr-has-no-such-data|accessdate=21 August 2021|newspaper=The News International (newspaper)|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203161224/https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/631317-138-mnas-either-paid-no-income-tax,-or-fbr-has-no-such-data|archivedate=3 February 2017}}</ref> He received 126,426 votes and defeated a candidate of [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2013 election result|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202013%20report/Election%20Report%202013%20Volume-II.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of Pakistan website|accessdate=21 August 2021|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201140612/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202013%20report/Election%20Report%202013%20Volume-II.pdf|archivedate=1 February 2018}}</ref>

In December 2013, he was appointed Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rana Afzal made Parliamentary Secretary for Finance|url=https://fp.brecorder.com/2013/12/201312031260592/|accessdate=21 August 2021|newspaper=Business Recorder (newspaper)|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823162421/http://fp.brecorder.com/2013/12/201312031260592/|archivedate=23 August 2017}}</ref> After [[Ministry of Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs|Minister for Finance]] [[Ishaq Dar]] took a medical leave in November 2017 before stepping down from the office, Khan was considered for the slot of Minister of State for Finance.<ref>{{cite news|title=In Dar’s absence, Fawad indirectly running affairs of finance ministry|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/11/24/in-dars-absence-fawad-indirectly-running-affairs-of-finance-ministry/|accessdate=21 August 2021|newspaper=Pakistan Today (newspaper)|date=24 November 2017}}</ref> After pressure on the federal government to fill the office of finance minister which was vacant for a month,<ref name="dawn/23dec2017" /> Khan was inducted on 22 December 2017 into the federal cabinet of Prime Minister [[Shahid Khaqan Abbasi]] after he was approved for the appointment of [[Ministry of Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs|Minister of State for Finance]]<ref name="dawn/22dec2017" /> with the additional charge of economic division.<ref>{{cite news|title=Miftah Ismail becomes finance adviser|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1593535/1-miftah-ismail-becomes-finance-adviser/|accessdate=21 August 2021|newspaper=The Express Tribune (newspaper)|date=27 December 2017}}</ref> Khan said that Ishaq Dar recommended his name for the slot of minister of state for finance.<ref name="pakistantoday/22dec2017">{{cite news|title=Rana Afzal Khan set to take reins of Finance Ministry|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/12/22/rana-afzal-khan-set-to-take-reins-of-finance-ministry/|accessdate=21 August 2021|newspaper=Pakistan Today (newspaper)|date=22 December 2017}}</ref> Khan's appointment came at time when country was advancing towards a balance of payment crises.<ref>{{cite news|title=Afzal picked as state minister amid mounting financial troubles|url=https://nation.com.pk/23-Dec-2017/afzal-picked-as-state-minister-amid-mounting-financial-troubles|accessdate=21 August 2021|newspaper=The Nation (newspaper)}}</ref> He took oath as minister of state for finance and Economic Affairs on 26 December.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rana Afzal takes oath as state minister for finance |url=https://nation.com.pk/27-Dec-2017/rana-afzal-takes-oath-as-state-minister-for-finance |accessdate=21 August 2021 |newspaper=The Nation (newspaper)|date=27 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Rana Afzal Khan takes oath as minister of state for finance|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/12/26/rana-muhammad-afzal-khan-takes-oath-as-minister-of-state-for-finance/|accessdate=21 August 2021|newspaper=Pakistan Today (newspaper)}}</ref> Upon the dissolution of the National Assembly on the expiration of its term on 31 May 2018, Khan ceased to hold the office as Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Notification: 2018 Federal Cabinet |url=http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/fm-mos-noti-01-06-2018.pdf |publisher=Cabinet division |accessdate=21 August 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601180526/http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/fm-mos-noti-01-06-2018.pdf |archivedate=1 June 2018}}</ref>

After the 2018 General Election, Khan served as Senior Leader of PML-N and regularly appeared on news channels to discuss the day's political events. It was speculated that he would attempt to return to elected office in the 2023 general election, as a Senate candidate.

== Family and personal life ==
Khan was married to Dr. Najma Afzal Khan, a member of the Punjab Assembly. He had two sons and two daughters.

His elder daughter, Aliya Afzal Khan, is a businesswoman and politician in the United Kingdom. His sons, Inaam Afzal Khan and Ihsaan 'Sunny' Afzal Khan, are businessmen based in Faisalabad whereas his fourth child, Hina Afzal Khan, is a doctor who lives in the United States.

==Death and legacy ==
Rana Afzal Khan was described by his colleagues in PMLN as a 'fierce advocate for Democracy'. His funeral was attended by tens of thousands of people in the city of Faisalabad. He was known for having firm principles, but being able to compromise in order to achieve legislative progress; both members of PMLN and PTI have paid tribute to him on social media.

A few days prior to his death, he suffered from angina pain and was admitted to AFIC hospital in Faisalabad.

Hospitals sources said that Afzal Khan, who had also served as the state minister during the PML-N government, was placed on a ventilator after his health deteriorated but he did not survive.

After his death, Opposition leader [[Shahbaz Sharif]] tweeted his condolences and praised Khan as a champion of Democracy. The Incumbent [[President of Pakistan]], [[Arif Alvi]] called the family of Afzal Khan, expressing his condolences and describing Khan as a 'Great man'. Incumbent Prime Minister [[Imran Khan]] held a prayer for Rana Afzal Khan at the Cabinet meeting that took place after his death.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Finance Minister of Pakistan}}
{{Abbasi Cabinet}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Rana Afzal}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:Finance Ministers of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistan Muslim League (N) MPAs (Punjab)]]
[[Category:Pakistan Muslim League (N) MNAs]]
[[Category:Pakistani MNAs 2013–2018]]
[[Category:Politicians from Faisalabad]]
[[Category:Pakistan Army officers]]
[[Category:Punjab MPAs 1997–1999]]
[[Category:Punjab MPAs 2008–2013]]
[[Category:NED University of Engineering & Technology alumni]]

Rana Afzal Khan - Revision history

->Chris the speller: /* Family and personal life */replaced: Personal Life → personal life