In Memoriam

It is with utmost sadness that we announce the passing of Akhtar Hamid on January 25, 2022.  A longtime resident of McLean, Virginia, he had a sudden cardiac arrest just a week after arriving on a visit to his native city, Lahore, Pakistan – a city that he loved with all his heart and where he was eventually buried.  A dedicated family man, a selfless and caring friend, and an esteemed mentor to many, he was a brilliant lawyer, skilled negotiator and consummate Bank professional.  He retired from the Bank in 2006.

Akhtar had a distinguished undergraduate record in the arts and law from Punjab University, where he graduated at the top of his class and was a double gold medalist. He went on to earn an M.A. and a B.C.L. in jurisprudence from Oxford University and was later called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn, London.  Upon his return to Pakistan in 1970, he began practicing as an advocate before the Lahore High Court while also serving at various times as editor of the Supreme Court Law Reports, legal adviser to the Atomic Energy Commission, deputy director and acting registrar of the Monopoly Control Authority, and visiting lecturer at the Civil Services Academy.

Akhtar then spent eight years with the Office of the General Counsel at the Asian Development Bank in Manila. Thereafter, he joined the World Bank’s Legal Department in 1983 (under Ibrahim Shihata) and over the next 23 years worked on a number of countries in South Asia and the Middle East.  Besides his responsibilities as an operational lawyer, he also made his mark as legal adviser for Procurement, secretary to the HR Appeals Committee, and acting chief counsel of Legal Operations Policy (“LEGOP”).

Akhtar’s approach to operations was rigorous and diligent.  His drafting of legal documents and other official Bank documents was impeccable and his reviews invariably raised substantive policy and development questions while offering valuable historical insights, perceptive legal comments, and practical implementation suggestions.

At meetings, participants invariably sat up when Akhtar took the proverbial floor.  His baritone voice, barrister’s eloquence and British diction, tempered by his signature wit and charm, commanded rapt attention and his comments were frequently reflected in the chair’s summary.  These gifts came especially handy during negotiations which he handled deftly whether in English, Urdu, or his native Punjabi.

Akhtar made particularly significant inputs to the Bank’s programs in Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh, helping guide difficult and complex loan negotiations with professional skill, incisive judgement, and a collaborative approach towards country delegations and donors that commanded respect from all.  Among other contributions, he introduced the “bullet repayment” provisions in Bank adjustment loans to address concerns about the misuse of loan proceeds.  He was also involved in several highly-regarded pieces of analytical work, notably on Islamic banking in the Middle East, banking courts and private sector development reforms in Pakistan, and judicial reforms and privatization in Bangladesh.

Decorated with Victorian judge-and-barrister prints, Akhtar’s Bank office varyingly resembled a law professor’s study, a barrister’s briefing room, and a judge’s chamber.  You were naturally drawn to it even in Akhtar’s absence for the room radiated its occupant’s warmth and mirth.  If he was at his desk, you’d notice him intently studying or marking up a document.  The Bank’s General Conditions and the red and green-cover procurement guidelines were always within arm’s reach.  Whenever he had time, he dipped into them assiduously and with minimal distraction, his reading glasses firmly in their trademark perch on his nose. Yet, his door always remained open, and he never shooed anyone away.

At a human level, Akhtar was unfailingly warm, kind, and gracious.  His peers looked up to him as a mentor and teacher even as he treated them as equal colleagues rather than subordinates. Invariably attired in a red or blue sweater, he strode the corridors with a confident expression and beaming smile.  His hearty and roaring laughter announced his unmistakable presence everywhere he went.  Never one to brag about his accomplishments, his innate humility, sincerity, and ability to laugh at himself endeared him to one and all.  He always made time to engage in banter, offer advice, admonish with feedback, or simply chuckle at something or someone.  A delightful raconteur, he always had an anecdote to share or a story to tell.  And he did so with panache and minimal embellishment.

After retiring from the Bank in 2006, Akhtar spent a year with the Pakistan country management unit as a consultant on legal and judicial reform, and later taught courses on business and the rule of law as a visiting professor at the Lahore School of Economics, leaving his imprint as a firm and demanding yet fair teacher with a deep love for humanity and passionate belief in justice and equity for all.