Ghulam Muhammad

Born Aug. 29, 1895; died Aug. 29, 1956, in Karachi. Pakistani statesman and financier.

Ghulam Muhammad began his career as a civil servant in the British colonial administration in India. From 1942 to 1945 he was minister of finances for the principality of Hyderabad. Until 1948 he was linked with Indian monopolies. In August 1947 he entered the first government of Pakistan as minister of finances and economic affairs. From 1951 to 1955 he was governor-general of Pakistan. He sought to establish a strong central authority in the country and prepared the administrative unification of West Pakistan. Under Ghulam Muhammad, Pakistan entered various military alliances, including the Baghdad Pact and SEATO. In his policies, he relied on the big bourgeoisie, landowners, and bureaucracy of Pakistan.