Islamabad Former cabinet secretary and ambassador of Pakistan Dr Masuma Hasan has been named Goodwill Ambassador of the World NGO Day Initiative. The World NGO Day Initiative is a new designated international calendar day dedicated to all NGO worldwide and the people behind them. Its purpose is to raise positive awareness of the work being done in the non-government sector in different communities and countries throughout the world especially in caring for humanity, promoting education, and protecting the environment. The invitation was extended to Dr Masuma in recognition of her leadership and experience as Chairperson of The Pakistan Institute of International Affairs and her commitment to the cause of women’s empowerment as president of the Board of Governors of Aurat Foundation. Dr Masuma Hasan has been a member of the board of governors of Aurat Foundation for more than two decades. In her public service career, Dr Masuma’s last posting was as Cabinet Secretary to the Government of Pakistan. Dr Masuma also served as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative of United Nations Office in Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and other international organisations in Vienna. She was elected Chairperson of the Group of 77 at the UN in Vienna. Concurrently, she was Pakistan’s Ambassador to Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia. She served two terms as Director of the National Institute of Public Administration Karachi where she had begun her career as faculty member.
