KABUL (PAN): Following are the biographies of seven ministers-designate introduced to the Wolesi Jirga for approval by Vice-President Karim Khalili on Saturday: ‏ ‏ Minister-designate of Communications and IT: Eng. Abdul Qudoos Hamidi, born in Jawzjan capital of Shiberghan, studied at Ibn-i-Aiman High School before getting admission to the Chemical Technology Department of the Polytechnic University in Kabul. He graduated in 1979 and went on to do his masters in 1983 from the same university. Hamidi started his career as an engineer with the Fuel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Department and served as general manager of the heating system for the Micro Ryan Housing Schemes. In 1970, he was appointed as a senior engineer in the Kam Coca-Cola Company. Also having served as a lecturer at the University of Balkh, he was appointed deputy minister of mines and industries. He has attended several workshops and speaks five languages including Dari and Pashto. ‏ ‏ Minister-designate of Trade and Industry: Mohammad Hadi Hakimi, born in the southern province of Ghazni, got primary and secondary education in Kabul before going to Tehran for higher studies. He got his Bachelors of Law from the Shiraz University, formerly known as Royal University of Iran. He obtained a Masters in Private Law from the Shahid Beheshti University, formerly called the National University of Iran. He has received many awards from different universities in Iran. He served as a lecturer in the Higher Education Institution of Kateb and published several research papers on a number of issues. ‏ ‏ Minister-designate of Transport and Aviation: Abdul Rahim Auraz, born in 1956 in northwestern Faryab province, completed his primary and secondary education at the Naderia School in Kabul. Auraz graduated from Hydro-Structure Department of Polytechnic University. From 1981 to 1989, he served as administrator in the training section of the Radio Afghanistan. In 1990, he was chosen as senator from Jawzjan. He worked as first secretary at the Afghan Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, from 1998 to 1999. Speaking Dari, Pashto, Turkmen, Turkish, Uzbeki, Russian and Azeri languages, Auraz is also good at English. Since 2007, he has been working as assistant and acting head of Third Political Division at the Foreign Ministry in Kabul and is responsible for the Southwestern Asian Desk in the First Political Division. ‏ ‏ Minister-designate of Rural Rehabilitation: Jarullah Mansoori, born in 1974 in Rostaq district of Takhar province, received secondary education in Peshawar, Pakistan. He graduated from Economic Faculty of the International Islamic University in Islamabad. He is now working on his Masters in Political Science and International Relations from the same university. After the establishment of the Transitional government, Mansoori served as an advisor to the Ministry of Justice. He was also special advisor to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) in 2006. Since 2007, he has been serving as first deputy at the National Environment Protection Agency. He can speak Dari, Pashto, English, Arabic and Urdu languages. Minister-designate Public Works: Mohammad Bashir Lali, born in Kabul in 1957, received primary and secondary education from the Ghazi High School. In 1991, he earned a bachelor's degree from the Kabul Polytechnic University in the field of road construction. He is currently living in the USA. ‏ ‏ Minister-designate of Haj & Islamic Affairs: Dr Mohammad Yousuf Niazi, born in Kama district of Nangarhar province in 1959, received early education from the Betab School and Imam Abu Hanifa Seminary in Kabul. He went to Saudi Arabia for higher education and earned a Bachelor's degree in Sharia from the Islamic University in Madina. He did masters and doctorate in Islamic Studies from the Umm Al-Qura University, where he also served as a teacher in 2001. From 1996 to 2000, he served at the Afghanistan Embassy in Saudi Arabia. Having earned several letters of appreciation and medals for his outstanding job, Niazi is currently working as advisor to the Education Ministry. Fluent in Pashto, Dari and Arabic, he is the author of several books in these three languages. He can also speak English. Minister-designate of Justice: Habibullah Ghalib, born in Kohistan district of central Kapisa province in 1939, is son of Muhammad Umar. He received preliminary education from the Gulbahar School and Imam Abdu Hanifa Seminary. He graduated from the Sharia Faculty of Kabul University in 1962. Five years later, he did his Masters in Sharia and Comparative Fiqh from Al-Azhar University in Egypt. He served the Ministry of Justice for two years before proceeding to Egypt for higher studies. On completion of studies, he rejoined the ministry and worked there until 1978, when he was detained in the wake of the Soviet invasion. Freed two years later, he migrated to Pakistan, where he stayed until 1994. Deputy attorney-general from 1994 to 1995, he served as legal advisor to the ministry besides holding membership of the Judicial Advisory Board at the Presidential Palace. mam/ss/mud