Qamar Zaman Kaira

Qamar Zaman Kaira
Minister of Information and Mass-Media Broadcasting
In office 18 April 2012 – 16 March 2013
President	Asif Ali Zardari
Prime Minister	Raja Pervez Ashraf Yousaf Raza Gillani
In office 14 March 2009 – 9 February 2011
Preceded by	Sherry Rehman
Succeeded by	Firdous Ashik Avan
Minister of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas
In office 31 March 2008 – 9 February 2011
President	Pervez Musharraf Asif Ali Zardari
Prime Minister	Yousaf Raza Gillani
Preceded by	Manzour Vatto
Succeeded by	Shukatullah Khan
Governor of Gilgit–Baltistan
In office 16 September 2009 – 22 March 2010
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Dr. Shama Khalid
Personal details
Born	Qamar Zaman Kaira (1950-01-05) 5 January 1950 Lalamusa, Punjab Province, West-Pakistan
Citizenship	Pakistan
Nationality	Pakistan
Political party	Pakistan Peoples Party
Alma mater	Forman Christian University University of Punjab
Occupation	Statesman
Religion	Islam

Qamar Zaman Kaira (Urdu: قمر زمان کائرہ‎; 5 January 1960) was the minister of information and mass-media broadcasting in the Government of Pakistan, formerly led by Yousaf Raza Gillani.

Before heading the ministry of Information, Kaira was the minister of the ministry of Kashmir and Northern Areas and later ascended as acting Governor of Gilgit–Baltistan in 2009. His career in the national politics started in 2002 on a platform of Pakistan Peoples Party and has pioneered many articles on political philosophy while at same time, raised voice for the democracy in the country. After succeeding Sherry Rehman as minister of information in 2009, he lost his ministry in 2011 to Firdous Ashik Avan. However, in 2012, he was again reappointed in the ministry of information after a cabinet reshuffle.

Education

Kaira was born in Lalamusa, one of the most populous and dense areas of Punjab Province of Pakistan, on 5 January 1960. His caste is Gujjar and his family has practised Sunni principles of Islam.He came from a political family.

After attending a local high school, Kaira matriculated and passied intermediate college testing examinations. After attending a F.G. Community College at Kharian Military District, Kaira made college transfer to Forman Christian University. At there, Kaira enrolled in the Department of Philosophy and earned BA in Philosophy from Forman Christian University in 1983. Kaira later applied for a Graduate school of the University of Punjab to resume his higher education. In 1985, Kaira wrote his thesis for the double master's degrees and subsequently obtained MA in Philosophy of Politics and MS in Political science from the Punjab University.

Political career

Kaira was elected to the National Assembly and became a minister in the coalition government of PPP, ANP, MQM and JUI-F formed after 2008 elections. He is a senior leader of Pakistan Peoples Party, having won from his local constituency in Gujrat. He was selected to the office of Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas on 31 March 2008, and was given the additional office of Federal Minister for Information on 14 March 2009.

In 2009 on Independence Day, Kaira praised the people of Malakand for their struggle against terrorism saying, "I salute your courage. Your spirit is very high and with unity, we would defeat the elements that are against the progress, peace and stability of our beloved country".

In May 2012, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that no one can challenge the ruling of speaker on the eligibility of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani

Other positions held

• President, Student Union, Federal Government Degree College, Kharian Cantt
• Nazim, Union Council Lala Musa
• Opposition Leader District Council Gujrat
• Member National Assembly 2002–2007
• Member public Accounts Committee, National Assembly 2002–2007
• Chairman Standing Committee SAFRON 2002–2007
• Member National Assembly on 17 March 2008

He lost his MNA seat in 2013 and faced a defeat.