The Commonwealth Foundation was saddened to learn of the death of Dr Humayun Khan on 22 September 2022. Dr Khan—who was a former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and Pakistani High Commissioner to India and the United Kingdom—served the Commonwealth Foundation as its Director from 1993 to 2000.
During his seven years as Director, Dr Khan was known for the strong and enduring relationships he maintained with organisations and colleagues right across the Commonwealth system. In many ways, Dr Khan laid the foundations for the organisation we are today: not least by pioneering the Foundation’s use of grant-making to help non-governmental organisations advance the global development agenda. In 1999, Dr Khan oversaw the delivery of a major piece of research on the relationship between participatory governance and good development outcomes. This study, which was presented to Commonwealth Heads of Government in Durban, heralded a new era of facilitating dialogue between civil society and governments through Commonwealth processes, work that we continue to advance to this day by ensuring the people of the Commonwealth are heard loudly and clearly at Heads of Government and Ministerial meetings.
Dr Khan had an illustrious career in international diplomacy and was held in the highest esteem by many across the world. We offer our heartfelt condolences to his family, as well as the people of Pakistan and the people of the Commonwealth whom he served so well.
Dr Anne T. Gallagher AO is Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation.
