Biography
Dr Muhammad Arshad Malik (born 1934) is a former federal secretary of the Government of Pakistan and celebrated for his contemporary and fresh take on Urdu poetry.
He joined the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) in 1957 after obtaining an MBBS degree from King Edward Medical College in Lahore. He scored the highest marks in the competitive civil service entrance examination in what was then West Pakistan. He studied public administration at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford.
Dr Malik’s civil service career spans over 35 years in senior positions in various ministries, departments and state corporations, which included federal secretary of different departments, chairman of Government corporations and Member Board of Revenue- Relief Commissioner. After his retirement, Dr Malik dedicated himself to educational and philanthropic pursuits, including a professorship of management sciences at a leading business school in Karachi. He was appointed Senior Associate Member of St. Antony’s College, Oxford University (UK). He also served as President of the Senior Citizen Foundation of Pakistan.
Dr Malik met with several writers of the Progressive Writers Movement, including the famous Saadat Hasan Manto. He returned to poetry after a hiatus of 50 years in public service. After retiring as a civil servant, he found the space to write his first collection of short stories “Zard Paton ki Barsat” (The Rain of Autumn Leaves) (Royal Book Company, 2006). This was followed by Umeedo Ka Safar (Journey of Hopes) (Royal Book Company, 2008) and Andharon say Agay (Beyond the Darkness) (Royal Book Company, 2012). The poems were acclaimed by critics and poets. Dr Malik’s poem, “Kosovo ki Bacheeyan” (The Fairies of Kosovo) was published by the Daily Jang (روزنامہ جنگ), Pakistan’s oldest Urdu newspaper of Pakistan with a daily circulation of nearly 1 million copies.
Dr Malik has been married to his wife Razia for over fifty years and lives with her in Karachi. His daughter Nadia Rahimtoola (Nadya A.R.) is the author of several books including Invisible Ties. His youngest daughter, Mahnaz Malik, is an international lawyer, arbitrator and author of several books including Mo’s Star. He has five grandchildren.
