Sartaj Aziz, a trained development economist, entered the political sphere in 1950, holding various positions culminating in his selection as Foreign Minister of Pakistan.

By 1967 he had become the Joint Secretary in the Planning Commission of Pakistan and was one of the principal contributors to Pakistan’s Third and Fourth Five-Year Plans.
Mr. Aziz began his international career in 1971 in Rome, Italy where he worked for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. In 1975 he moved on to work with the World Food Council and later the International Fund for Agricultural Development from 1978. During this time Mr. Aziz participated in a number of international conferences and was an active participant in the North-South dialogue and South-South Cooperation.

Mr. Aziz returned to domestic politics in 1984 when he joined the Federal Cabinet as Minister of State for Food, Agriculture and Cooperatives and served as a Senator for the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan from 1985 to 1999.

Mr. Aziz held a variety of key government positions, including Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Rural Development and Federal Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Affairs. He acted as Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Kashmir Affairs and Northern Affairs and a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Finance and Economic Affairs, and Food and Agriculture. In 1993 he was appointed Secretary General of the Pakistan Muslim League.

Mr. Aziz is currently Vice-Chancellor of Beaconhouse National University in Lahore.
Mr. Aziz was educated at Islamia College Lahore, and the Hailey College of Commerce. In 1949, he received a degree in Commerce from the University in Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan. In 1962, he proceeded to Harvard University where he earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration and Economic Development.

Mr. Aziz was recognized for his work with the award of Tamgha-e-Pakistan and Sitara-e-khidmat in 1959 and 1967 respectively for his contribution to planning and development in Pakistan. Mr. Aziz is currently Vice-Chancellor of Beaconhouse National University in Lahore.