General Ehsan ul Haq (retd.)

General (Retired) Ehsan Ul Haq was born on 22 September 1949 and was commissioned in Pakistan Army in October 1969. He is a graduate of Pakistan Army Command and Staff College Quetta, and got his masters in War Studies from the National Defence University, Islamabad. He has also attended a number of courses abroad including an Executive Management course with US Army. The general is also a graduate of the PLA Air Defence College Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China. His international assignments include an exchange posting as an instructor with the Iranian Armed Forces (1977) and a command deputation with the Saudi Arabian defence forces.

General Ehsan Ul Haq has held various command, instructional and staff appointments. He had the distinction of commanding an Air Defence Division as well as an Infantry Division. On promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General, he was appointed as Commander of an elite Corps, responsible for defence of the Pakistan - Afghanistan border and security in the Tribal areas (FATA). At a critical juncture in Pakistan’s national history, the general held the prestigious and important assignment of Director General Military Intelligence (1998 -2001). In the wake of the momentous events of 9/11 and intervention in Afghanistan, General Ehsan was appointed as the Director General ISI.

He was elevated to the rank of 4 star General in October 2004, appointed as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Pakistan and retired in October 2007.

Eversince his retirement, he has been engaged in a number of corporate, intellectual and humanitarian activities. At present, he is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pakistan – Libya Holding Company, an investment institution/Bank. He is also on the Board of Governors of the Al-Shifa Trust, which runs a chain of Eye Hospitals throughout Pakistan. The general is also a member of the Board of Governors of Islamabad Policy Research Institute, a prestigious think tank on strategic and security matters. He is a frequent speaker in international forums, reputed think tanks and Universities on geopolitical, defence and security issues. The general is also patronizing a humanitarian trust run by his family named, EHSAN (Education, Health, Social Awareness, Network)

In recognition of his meritorious services, he has been conferred the award of Hilal Imtiaz (Military), Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military), Chevalier de la Legion d’ Honneur from the French Government as well as is the recipient of the King Abdul Aziz Medal from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.