Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi

Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi is a businessman and political activist. He belongs to Kundi tribe that hails from Dera Ismail Khan and Tank area of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province. This is a pushto speaking tribe and has produced many prominent businessmen, politician and soldiers. He was born in his ancestral village Ama Khel on July 27, 1966. He got his primary and secondary education from Government Anglo Oriental School in Karachi while he got his High School Certificate (H.S.C) from Government Dehli College in Karachi.

He earned Bachelors of Engineering (BE) degree from NED University of Engineering & Technology in Computer Systems. He later attended institute of Business Administration, Karachi (IBA) to get a Masters in Business administration (MBA).

After graduating from NED University of Engineering and Technology, Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi started his career with Zelin (Pvt.) ltd. He later worked as branch manager with EFU Life Insurance and then became head of Money Market and Fixed Income with KASB Securities, one of the leading stock brokers of Karachi Stock Exchange.

After migrating to USA, he started two companies i.e. getTickets, LLC and Interactive Ventures. getTickets, LLC was the first travel services company to start a call center in Karachi to cater to international travelers in USA. In 2007, he founded Interactive Ventures owns and operates a network of over 200 web sites in many verticals including city portals, travel, news, automotive, finance, career and entertainment sectors. To keep people informed and educated on politics and social issues Interactive Ventures launched getPakistan.tv and WorldTalk.tv.

During his term as the President of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce-USA (PCC-USA), a Coal Forum was organized in Houston which was widely attended by leading coal technology companies, investment banks, GE Power, Worley Parsons, US eximp bank, Thar Coal Authority and Engro Coal Power Company. As a business and community leader he has been promoting investment in the services sector of Pakistan especially call centers, data processing and web applications.

As member of the executive board of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce-USA (PCC-USA) he has been credited with initiating policy document "Ideas for Pakistan" which is published annually and submitted to key policy makers in USA and Pakistan. He was instrumental in the signing of sister city agreement between Houston and Karachi as well as preparation of the proposal to sign this historic protocol. He was member of the team to lobby for the execution of Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between the two countries. Absence of this important trade document has hampered the foreign direct investment in Pakistan as well as embarked on Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

He was part of the delegation that executed Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) with Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI), Pakistan Gem & Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC) and Haripur Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Under his leadership PCC-USA organized first ever Chamber Presidents Summit in collaboration with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) which was attended by Presidents and delegation of seven leading chamber of the country.

Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi has been contributing op-ed essays to leading Pakistani newspapers The Frontier Post, The Daily Times, Daily DAWN and weekly Pakistan Chronicle. He has written speeches and advised politicians on election campaigns. His op-ed columns cover topics related to politics, social issues and foreign policy.

He was the first opinion maker to present an idea that the Palestinian bid for UN Security Council membership was supported by United States of America through backdoor diplomatic channels. His theory was based on the view that American strategic focus is shifting from Middle East to South Asia; Israel's intransigent to engage in a viable peace process; pressure from American allies Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to support Palestinian membership in the UN. This idea was subsequently confirmed when Palestinian application for UNESCO was accepted by a majority vote which could become a precursor to full UN membership. In a speech US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta warned that Israel will be diplomatically isolated if they do not find a solution to the Middle East Peace process.

In his writing Kundi has presented contemporary views of Islamic Economic System and Islamic Social system. His main source for these ideas is Quran, interpreted in the light of discoveries in technology and developments in the social science in the 21st century.

In a December 14, 2011 article Kundi presented the idea of emergence of a new multi-polar world order. In this new order American hegemony is challenged by a collaboration of Sino-Russo alliance resulting in a new cold war.

Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi has written three books titled "Freedom by Choice", "Lessons from Quran" and "Islamic Social Contract". Freedom by Choice is a collection of writings covering political landscape of Pakistan, reforms in the Muslim world and US-Pakistan relations. Lessons from Quran, is a compilation of Quranic verses based on the social values offered by it. Islamic Social Contract is presentation of a political system derived from Quran and Sunnah of Mohammad. This book offers a political structure including rights and duties of the citizens; roles and responsibilities of political institutions; economic system and foreign relations.

Mr. Kundi had been active in community politics for over a decade. He became member of constitutional review committee of Pakistan Association of Greater Houston (PAGH). He was actively involved in the election campaign of MJ Khan to become elected member of city council of Houston which is the fifth largest city in USA. He has written speeches and advised politicians on their election campaigns.

In 2010, he joined Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf after lengthy discussions with Chairman of PTI Imran Khan in Islamabad. He is a member of PTI Advisory Committee and second most liked PTI leader on facebook after Chairman Imran Khan.