Abdul W. Haqiqi

Professor Abdul Wassay Haqiqi (born 1945) is an Afghan American economist and coauthor of a number of published and cited works concerning Islamic banking accounting standards.

Background

Professor Haqiqi was born in Laghman, Afghanistan. He went to Habibia High School in Kabul and studied two years at Kabul University. He received a merit scholarship to study at the United States from the East-West Center headquartered in Hawaii where he pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Hawaii. After receiving his bachelor's degree, he was granted a fellowship at the University of Vermont where he was awarded a master's degree in economics. Professor Haqiqi is fluent in four languages (Pashto, Persian, English, Urdu).

Adviser to Mohammad Daoud Khan's Cabinet

Upon completing his studies in the United States, Haqiqi served in Afghan government positions including senior adviser to Mohammad Daoud Khan's Vice President and assumed the role of the President of State-Owned Enterprises in the Ministry of Finance. However, after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, he along with many other Afghans at that juncture, migrated to the United States.

Role in Afghanistan's Current Administration

After retiring from his financial analyst position at the American International Group, Haqiqi returned to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban. He proposed financial and commercial reforms in various sectors of Afghanistan while taking consultancy/advisory positions in the ministries of Finance, Commerce & Industry and Economy. He spearheaded efforts to train and enhance capacity building of Afghanistan's financial officers as well as teaching in Kabul University, Bakhtar University and American University in Afghanistan.

International conferences, seminars, workshops, forums and credit negotiations

Professor Haqiqi has participated in these events conducted and sponsored by IMF, UNCTAD, UNESCAP, CAREC, SAARC, ECO, WIPO, SPECA, OIC/Commerce, East West Institute, FICCI, and CII and World Bank.

Contributions

His notable co-authored contributions include:

• The Collapse of the Souk al-Manakh: A Chronicle, 1985
• Accounting Needs of Islamic Banking, 1987
• His upcoming books are on Modernization of Afghan Ministry of Finance and a Dynamic Public Finance Management (PFM) and on Transit Trade with Afghanistan: Connectivity to Regional Cooperation.